Protecting Identities in the Military
A naval commander’s top-secret security clearance is threatened after his Social Security number is used to commit employment fraud. A U.S. Marine stationed overseas discovers $15,000 in credit card charges for purchases he never made. A military spouse is unable to buy groceries or pay rent because someone has drained the family account.
Their stories are the result of heinous identity theft crimes repeated around the world. Military personnel are prime targets for identity thieves because of long deployments and frequent relocations. Servicemembers on active duty face the greatest threat of identity theft. It can be difficult to monitor bank accounts and credit card statements while overseas. When they return home, they discover they can’t get a car loan or mortgage. Bad credit can even affect security clearance and, with it, the opportunity for promotion.
“Our fighting men and women all over the world are put in a vulnerable position just when our nation needs them to be at their strongest,” said Adam Levin, chairman and co-founder of Identity Theft 911. “The fact that someone would disrespect our service members by stealing their identities is outrageous.”
How they do it
Thieves acquire personal information by Dumpster-diving near military bases, stealing credit card numbers, or changing the address of military personnel without their knowledge.
All branches of the military are vulnerable to identity theft because of the widespread use of Social Security numbers, Levin said. Since the 1960s, Social Security numbers have been written on everything from duffel bags to dog tags.
The practice was changed in 2009, and updated identification cards only list the last four digits of a Social Security number. But if those numbers fall into the wrong hands, they can still leave a huge risk of exposure. “Only using the last four digits doesn’t really provide a lot of extra protection,” Levin added.
How to fight it
Experts recommend that deployed personnel place an active-duty alert on their credit report. This free service requires creditors to take steps to verify a consumer’s identity before granting credit. This alert is effective for one year, and can be renewed or canceled if the deployment ends early.
“When you’re on active duty you rely on friends and family to handle business for you,” said Joanna Crane, manager of the Identity Theft Program at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). “An active-duty alert eases that burden.”
Deployed personnel often grant friends or family members power of attorney to manage their finances while overseas. However, this also puts military members at risk for identity fraud because it allows access to sensitive financial information.
Experts advise military personnel who are not on active duty to monitor their accounts closely, inspect credit reports, and review financial statements regularly to look for fraudulent charges. Warning signs include bills that don’t arrive as expected, denials of credit for no apparent reason, or calls or letters about purchases that were never made.
Military personnel who suspect they are victims of fraud or identity theft should follow these steps:
- Close accounts that have been tampered with or established fraudulently. Follow up in writing and use the ID Theft Affidavit at www.ftc.gov/idtheft. Ask for verification that the disputed account has been closed and the fraudulent debts discharged.
- Keep copies of documents and records about the theft.
- Explain the situation to the commanding officer. A commanding officer may be contacted by creditors looking to collect charges made by the identity thief.
- File a police report with military law enforcement and the local police.
- Report the theft to the Federal Trade Commission.
The FTC has created a special military database for reporting identity theft, Crane said. The Military Sentinel is an online database that flags specific military bases that are being targeted by identity thieves. This database allows law enforcement to spot local and servicewide scams and trends, and identifies companies generating complaints from service members where they live.
“Perpetrators often hide out in companies near military bases, such as used-car dealerships,’’ Crane said. “These are the types of places where identity thieves have been fairly successful.”
Servicemembers can take steps to safeguard their personal information. The government is implementing programs to secure their data from identity predators. But it’s never going to be enough until identity crimes that target military personnel are eradicated.
“Protecting our service members should be this country’s top priority,” Levin said. “When they are out of the country defending our freedom, it is our obligation to do everything we can to keep them out of harm’s way here at home.”
Tips—How servicemembers can keep their identities safe
- Place an active-duty alert on your credit report. Call one of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies: Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion.
- Cross-shred financial documents.
- Don’t give out personal information on the phone, through the mail, or over the Internet unless you know who you are dealing with.
- Safeguard your military ID. Keep it with you or locked up at all times.
- Never lend your credit cards or account information to anyone else.
- Never click on links in unsolicited emails. Use security software to protect your computer, and keep it up-to-date.
- Don’t use an obvious password such as your birth date, your mother’s maiden name, or the last four digits of your Social Security number.
- Keep your personal information in a secure place, especially if you live in a barracks or with roommates.
- Don’t let mail pile up unattended. If you can’t collect it, use a mail stop or post office box, or have someone you trust hold your mail while you are away.
Source: ©2011 Identity Theft 911, LLC.
http://www.idt911.com