March 14, 2008
Brandon Haught
Public Information Office

SHERIFF'S OFFICE OFFERS TIP TO PREVENT IDENTITY THEFT 

Nearly every month victims in Volusia County discover that someone has opened new credit card accounts or purchased expensive items in their name without their knowledge. The victims typically find out about it when the credit companies call trying to collect thousands of dollars worth of debt. The Volusia County Sheriff's Office is concerned about the spread of identity theft, and -- in conjunction with the Florida Attorney General's Office -- wants the public to know that there are ways to protect personal information and reduce the chances of becoming a victim. "Identity theft is a growing problem across the country and is one of the worst nonviolent crimes a victim can face," said Sheriff Ben Johnson. "For those who've been victimized, it can take a lot of time, effort and money to clear their name and credit. That's why it's so important for citizens to protect their personal information and help reduce their chances of becoming a victim." 

When an identity thief uses someone else's personal information to pass himself off as the victim, the destruction of the victim's finances and reputation can be devastating. The damage from a few fraudulent credit cards usually can be undone fairly quickly, and with little lasting harm. But when a thief steals someone else's identity, they can open multiple credit accounts and saddle the victim with headaches for years to come.  

One effective way for citizens to deter identity theft is to place a security freeze on their credit reports. Florida law provides this consumer protection, which mandates that upon formal request by a person, all three commonly used credit report companies won't be allowed to release a credit report, credit score or other related information to any potential creditors without the person's permission. What this means is that if someone has stolen a Social Security number and other personal information and attempts to finance a new car in the victim's name, in most cases he won't be able to. The car dealership will attempt to obtain the credit report of the victim whose identity the thief has assumed, but with it frozen the information won't be released and the dealership won't finance the car. 

This is a powerful tool, but isn't foolproof. Citizens still need to safeguard their personal information and be on guard for scams. But in the event someone obtains a victim's information, the damage can be minimized. To place a security freeze on credit reports, separate letters must be sent by certified mail to each of the three credit reporting agencies requesting the freeze. The letter should include the requestor's full name, address, Social Security number and date of birth. Requestors also will need to supply all of the addresses where they've lived in the past five years and proof of current address, such as a copy of the current utility bill or phone bill. Requestors also must attach a photocopy of a government-issued identification card, such as a driver's license or military ID card. Each company charges a $10 fee, for a total of $30 to cover all three. However, the service is free for persons 65 years old or older. It takes approximately five business days after a request is submitted before the credit reports are frozen.  

Once a credit report is frozen, there are some exceptions. Companies that the requestor already has accounts open with can get the credit reports as well as collection agencies and some government agencies. For everyone else, though, they will get a notice saying that the person's account is frozen whenever they try to request it. Anyone using the service will get a letter in the mail from each credit report agency confirming that the freeze is active. Each letter will include a security code that is needed in order to contact the credit agencies and have the reports temporarily unfrozen. This will need to be done, for instance, when shopping for a car or applying for a loan. This should be planned in advance to allow sufficient time to have the report unfrozen. There's a $10 fee charged by each agency to unfreeze the report. 

For more information about freezing credit, the addresses of the credit reporting agencies and some answers to commonly asked questions, please see this link on the Sheriff's Office website: http://www.volusia.org/sheriff/Security%20Freeze
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