Identity Theft Information

Identity theft occurs when an individual’s personal information is used fraudulently to obtain various goods and services. Stolen identifying information can be used to obtain credit cards, purchase vehicles, or obtain medical services. Identity theft can have serious and long-term consequences for you and your family. However, there are ways to minimize your risk of identity theft as well as resources in the event your identity is stolen. 

Minimize Identity Theft Risk

• Shred or destroy documents containing personal or financial information you no longer need.
• Do not give personal information over the phone. Know who you are dealing with. Legitimate numbers can be spoofed. If in doubt of who you are talking to, hang-up and call the number back. 
• Do not share personal information over the internet. 
• Beware of e-mails, text messages, or phone calls purporting to be a legitimate business. Legitimate businesses will not need you to provide personal information they should already have. 
• Avoid using common passwords such as your birthday or last four digits of your Social Security number.

 Identity Theft Resources

If you believe you are a victim of identity theft, we urge you to take the following steps as soon as possible:

• File a fraud alert with one of the three national credit bureaus.
• File an identity theft report with your local law enforcement agency.
• Close accounts that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.

• It is imperative that you contact the company involved to dispute the fraudulent transactions or accounts.
• Follow up with the company in writing. Sending correspondence by certified mail is recommended.
• Ask the company whether a fraud affidavit is required. If it is, the company may send you its affidavit, or you can get one from the Federal Trade Commission‘s identity theft booklet, which is also available from the Attorney General’s office.

• File an identity theft complaint with the Federal Trade Commission or call (877) IDTHEFT (438-4338).
• Consider placing a security freeze on your credit report.
•  Consider requesting an identity theft passport provided by the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office.

 For more information about identity theft visit the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office website.

In 2005, the Arkansas Legislature approved Act 744, which gives the Attorney General authority to issue an identity theft passport to an Arkansas resident who learns or reasonably suspects that he or she is a victim of financial identity fraud and who has filed a police report.

The identity theft passport is a card, similar in appearance to a driver’s license, is designed to assist financial identity fraud victims in re-establishing their good names. This passport may also help prevent a victim’s arrest for other criminal offenses committed by the identity thief.

For instructions on how to obtain an identity theft passport click here.