Identify theft is when someone uses your personal information without your knowledge to commit fraud or theft. Identity thieves can use your name, Social Security number, credit card number or some other piece of your personal information for their own use.

Here are some examples of how identify theft can occur:

• Thieves can open a new credit card account using your name, date of birth, and Social Security number. When they use the credit card and do not pay the bills, the delinquent account is filed on your credit report.
• Thieves can call your credit card issuer pretending to be you and change the mailing address on your credit card account. Then, your imposter runs up charges on your account. Because your bills are being sent to the new address, you may not immediately realize there is a problem.
• Thieves can establish cellular phone service in your name.
• Thieves can file for bankruptcy under your name to avoid paying debts they have incurred under your name or to avoid eviction from their homes.

• Make a copy of all the contents of your wallet: credit cards, driver’s license, health insurance card, checks, etc. This will help you keep track of your account numbers and phone numbers, allowing you to take immediate action, if needed.
• Do not carry your Social Security card in your wallet; leave it in a safe place.
• Check your credit report regularly. Call each of the three credit bureaus every year and make sure the information is correct and that you have authorized all of the transactions reported.
• Deposit outgoing mail in post office collection boxes or at your local post office, rather than in an unsecured mailbox.
• Follow-up with creditors if your bills do not arrive on time. A missing credit card bill could mean an identity thief has taken over your credit card account and changed your billing address to cover his tracks.

If you suspect your identity has been stolen, you should immediately contact the Federal Trade Commission:

To put yourself on “Fraud Alert”, contact the major credit bureaus and ask to have copies of your credit report:

• If you have any accounts with Texas State Bank, you should immediately contact a Texas State Bank Representative.
• Immediately cancel all of your bank accounts and credit cards that are at risk.
• Contact your local police department with details of robbery.
• If your mail has been stolen, contact your local post office (United States Postal Services).
• Be organized and keep a notebook with accurate information of what was stolen, exact date, time and amounts. You may also keep a log of all phone conversations with the credit card companies, credit bureaus, banks, police and post office to help dispute any transactions as you begin to resolve your situation.