What is Identity Theft? Identity theft is a crime which occurs when an individual appropriates another's name, address, Social Security number, or other identifying information with the intent to commit fraud.

Because your personal identity is your most valuable asset, Thrivent Financial Bank has partnered with Identity Theft 911TM to give our Online Banking customers premier identity theft education, proactive services and one-on-one counseling assistance should they become a victim of identity theft. Details.

Prevention
The best way to combat identify theft is to prevent it. The following are some relatively simple, cost-effective steps to help you fight this invasive crime. You should:

• Shred all personal documents i.e., credit card offers, credit card receipts, before discarding them.
    
• Request copies of your credit reports from all three major credit bureaus once a year and review them carefully.
    
• Secure your Social Security card – but not on your person or in your wallet.
    
• Only carry necessary credit cards, and make sure they are all signed.
    
• Keep a photocopy of the front and back of all cards in case they must be reported lost or stolen.
    
• Secure your PINs (personal identification numbers) – but not on your person or in your wallet.
    
• Contact credit issuers immediately if an expected statement is not received.
    
• Check your statements thoroughly for any suspicious activities.
    
• Avoid leaving outgoing mail in your mailbox where it can easily be taken.
    
• When creating passwords and PINs, avoid the use of the last four digits of Social Security Numbers, birth dates, middle name, pet's name, consecutive numbers, or anything else that could easily be discovered by thieves.
    
• Remove your name from the marketing lists of the three credit reporting bureaus: Equifax, Experian (formerly TRW), and Trans Union. This will limit the number of pre-approved offers of credit you are sent.

Actions to Take and Resources For Victims
In the unfortunate event that there has been an identity theft, the following are some steps for the victims to take.

• Keep a log of all conversations. It is extremely important to document all contacts' names, dates, times, and phone numbers.
    
• List any money paid out for mailings, stamps, certified mail, or other expenses.
    
• Confirm conversations in writing. 
    
• Send correspondence by certified mail, return receipt requested. The number one "out" used by companies to deny any responsibility is, "We never received it."
    
• Keep copies of everything pertaining to the case. 
    
• Take immediate action: 
  • Contact the fraud division of the three major credit-reporting agencies to advise that they are the victims of identity theft. The agencies will provide free copies of credit reports to victims to review and dispute any contents.
    Equifax: 800-525-6285
    Experian: 888-397-3742 
    Trans Union: 800-680-7289
      
  • Request that the three major credit-reporting agencies place a "fraud alert" on the victim's file. This alert will warn lenders to be especially careful in authenticating the identity of anyone claiming to be the victim, and to contact the victim before processing any request for credit. 
      
  • File a report with the local police department. Be sure to get the report number and a copy of the report.
      
  • Contact each credit grantor who has allowed a fraudulent account, and tell them the victim did not open that account. Have them close the account and ask for written verification that it has been closed and will be removed from the victim's credit file. If the victim opens new accounts, a unique password should be established for identification purposes.
     
  • Call the Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft Toll-Free Hotline at 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338). This is the central point of contact within the federal government for reporting incidents of identity theft.
      
  • Contact the victim's financial institution's fraud department to make them aware.
      
  • Call the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General's Fraud Hotline - 800-269-0271 or online at http://www.ssa.gov/oig.

Resources
If additional information concerning identity theft is required, contact the following resources at the addresses and phone numbers listed:

Credit Reporting Bureaus

Name	Equifax	Experian (formerly TRW)	Trans Union
Address	P.O. Box 105069 Atlanta, GA 30348	P.O. Box 9532 Allen, TX 75013	P.O. Box 6790 Fullerton, CA 92834
To Report Fraud	(800) 525-6285 and write to address above.	(888) EXPERIAN (888-397-3742) and write to address above.	(800) 680-7289 and write to address above.
Fax		(800) 301-7196
To Order a Credit Report	(800) 685-1111	(888) EXPERIAN	(800) 888-4213
Web	www.econsumer.equifax.com	www.experian.com	www.transunion.com

Social Security Administration (SSA)
(800) 772-1213 
Web: www.ssa.gov

The SSA sends a brochure on which government agencies to contact. If asked about identity theft, the SSA refers victims to the FBI, which refers them to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). 

To remove a name from mail and phone lists, contact:
Direct Marketing Association (Web: www.the-dma.org)
Mail Preference Service, P.O. Box 9008, Farmingdale, NY 11735.
Telephone Preference Service, P.O. Box 9014, Farmingdale, NY 11735.

Online resource for Identity Theft information
The U.S. government's central web site for information about identity theft is located at: www.consumer.gov/idtheft.