Identity Theft Webquest

Part I Use the Justice Departments website to learn more about identity theft.
http://www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/websites/idtheft.html
1. What is identity theft? -> Identity theft is when someone wrongfully obtains personal information of another
person including ones Social Security number, bank account or credit card number, telephone calling card
number and other valuable identifying data to personally profit at that persons expense.

2. Define the following ways thieves might steal your identity
a. Shoulder Surfing -> Looking over someones shoulder at the ATM, computer, cell phone or other
electronic device and taking down their information.

b. Dumpster Diving -> Going into the trash in an effort to find discarded papers containing someones
valuable information.

c. Via the mail -> Stealing your mail.

d. Spam Emails -> E-mails that make you submit your personal information to receive something in return
(that is fake).

3. To avoid being a victim of identity theft, it is recommended that you SCAM what does this stand for? -> S- stingy,
C- check, A- ask, M- maintain

4. Explain what one part of SCAM means. -> Check is when youre supposed to check your credit score a few times
a year to keep a watchful eye out for fraud.


Part II For this assignment, you will read a story of one persons experience with identity theft and use the internet to
further your understanding of what happened to the person. Questions where you will need to research the answer
online are indicated as such.
Article -
http://www.protectmyid.com/images/education_center/pdf/060IdentityRecovery/050%20id%20recovery_one%20victi
ms%20story.pdf
5. Why was Joe Tremba confused when he received a collection letter about a past due credit card account? -> He only
has one credit card, and he had a bill for two credit cards.

6. What does it mean to be assigned to a collections agency? -> When you are repeatedly not paying a bill and are in
debt, credit card companies will send you to a collections agency

7. How has this identity theft affected Joes life? -> He cant buy a house because the ordeal ruined his credit score.

8. What does it mean to opt out of credit card offers that arrive in the mail? -> If you opt out, you dont have to
receive credit card offers in the mail for a certain amount of time.

9. How many people are victims of identity theft each year? -> About 11.1 million Americans per year.

10. What is the average amount stolen according to the Javelin Identity Fraud Survey Report in 2010? -> $4,841

11. When must suspicious credit activity be reported so creditors can efficiently track fraudulent purchases? -> Within
the first 30 days.

12. What are the 3 big things you must look for when reviewing your credit report? -> Accounts that do not belong to
you, personal information, such as names, phone numbers, date of birth, addresses, or Social Security numbers
that do not belong to you and outdated or incomplete information.

13. What steps should be taken when you are the victim of identity theft? -> Placing a fraud alert on your credit report,
filing a police report, and filling out an Identification Theft Complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.

14. What is a fraud alert with the FTC? [Look this up online] -> An initial fraud alert can make it harder for an identity
thief to open more accounts in your name.