Information on how to
protect your privacy
and what to do if
your identity is stolen
KNOW THE RISKS
Updated 6/24
Important
contacts
NYS Department of State
Division of Consumer Protection’s
Identity Theft Prevention and
Mitigation Program
800-697-1220
dos.ny.gov/identity-theft-prevention-
and-mitigation-program
NYS Attorney General
General Helpline: 800-771-7755
TTY: 800-788-9898
ag.ny.gov/consumer-frauds-bureau/
identity-theft
Federal Trade Commission
Identity Theft Hotline
877-IDTHEFT (438-4338)
identitytheft.gov
Consumer Credit
Reporting Agencies
Equifax
800-525-6285
Experian
888-397-3742
TransUnion
800-680-7289
IDENTITY
THEFT
Dear Friend,
Identity theft continues to be one of the fastest-growing crimes
in the United States. According to a Bureau of Justice Statistics’
report released in 2023, approximately 1 in 5 Americans age 16 or
older (22%) have experienced identity theft in their lifetime.
From computer hacking to credit card skimming, criminals have
developed sophisticated ways to use your personal information for
financial gain. Identities can be traced and stolen from credit and
debit card receipts and numbers, checks and internet transactions.
Corporate data breaches can put the personal information of
millions of Americans at risk.
This brochure contains tips to reduce your risk of becoming a
victim of identity theft. I hope this information is helpful to you. You
can contact my office if you have questions or concerns about this
or any other matter.
Sincerely,
Carl E. Heastie
Speaker of the Assembly
District Office:
250 Broadway, Suite 2301
New York, NY 10007
212-312-1400
Albany Office:
Room 932, LOB
Albany, NY 12248
518-455-3791
Speaker of the Assembly
Carl E. Heastie
Email: speaker@nyassembly.gov
Important information from
Speaker of the Assembly
Carl E. Heastie
NYS Office of Victim Services (OVS)
OVS may cover out-of-pocket expenses for
financial counseling for eligible seniors or
persons with disabilities who are victimized.
Call 800-247-8035 or visit ovs.ny.gov for
more information.
Delete any personal information stored on
your computer before disposing of it by using
a “wipe” utility program, which overwrites the
hard drive.
Update your computer virus software regularly
and use a secure browser to safeguard your
online transactions. Don’t download files or
click on hyperlinks from strangers.
Install a locked mailbox at your residence to
help reduce mail theft.
Keep a copy of your credit card information,
account numbers, expiration dates and
telephone numbers of customer service or
fraud departments in case your cards are
stolen. Make sure this information is kept in a
secure location.
Use passwords on your credit card, bank or
phone accounts. Don’t use easily available
information like your birthdate or the last
four digits of your Social Security number for
passwords.
Find out who has access to your personal
information at work and verify that your
records are kept in a secure location. Ask how
personal records are discarded.
Tear up, cut up or, ideally, shred your credit card
receipts, copies of credit and bank statements,
checks and credit cards before throwing them
out.
Don’t use the same password for different
accounts and periodically change all passwords.
WHAT DO I DO IF MY
IDENTITY HAS BEEN STOLEN?
Call the companies where you know fraud
occurred. Ask them to freeze the accounts and
change logins, passwords and PINs.
Place a free, 90-day fraud alert on your
information and get your credit reports by
contacting one of the three credit bureaus –
Equifax, Experian or TransUnion.
Report identity theft to the FTC using their
online form at identitytheft.gov or by calling
877-IDTHEFT (438-4338). If you create an
account, they’ll walk you through each recovery
step, update your plan as needed, track your
progress and pre-fill forms and letters for you.
File a report with your local police department,
and bring your FTC identity theft report with
you. Be sure to obtain a copy of the police
report.
Take steps to ensure your mail, personal
information and other data are protected, and
begin to repair the damage by closing new
accounts opened in your name, removing false
charges from your accounts, correcting your
credit report and considering a credit freeze.
Sources: NYS Attorney General’s Office, Federal Trade Commission, NYS Department of State Division of Consumer Protection
FREE ANNUAL CREDIT REPORTS AVAILABLE
You are entitled to a free copy of your credit report from
each credit reporting agency once every 12 months. To
order your free reports, visit annualcreditreport.com or call
877-322-8228. This website is the only source authorized
by the federal government for free annual credit reports.
WHAT IS IDENTITY THEFT?
Identity theft is the intentional use of someone else’s
identity, including credit or debit card numbers, a
Social Security number, a driver’s license number
or an ATM personal identification number (PIN),
to illegally purchase goods or services or open up
new accounts in a victim’s name.
Identity theft is a serious crime that can cause
substantial harm to a consumer. Victims are often
left with damaged credit reports and must spend
time, effort and money to undo the damage. As
a result, victims often have trouble getting credit
and loans and even cashing checks.
HOW CAN I PREVENT
IDENTITY THEFT?
Minimize the amount of information a thief
can steal. Avoid carrying extra credit cards,
your Social Security card, birth certificate or
passport in your wallet or purse.
Never keep your personal identification number
(PIN) on or near your ATM or credit card.
Memorize these numbers.
Have your name removed from the marketing
lists of the three major consumer credit
reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and
TransUnion.
Never give out your credit card number or
other information over the phone unless you
initiated the call and trust the business.
Beware of “phishing,” the practice of sending
bulk email or pop-up messages that deceive
consumers into disclosing personal information
like passwords and Social Security numbers.
Legitimate companies don’t solicit information
this way. Also, be wary of unsolicited text or
other messages containing financial offers.
Laptops are easily stolen. Try not to store
sensitive information on them.
Consumer protections
CONSUMER NOTIFICATION OF
SECURITY BREACHES
New York State law requires public and
private organizations to notify customers
when the security of their private
information has been breached. This
enables consumers to take steps to prevent
their identity from being stolen or to stop
the theft as soon as possible.
“FREEZE” YOUR CREDIT REPORTS
Consumers in New York State can prohibit
(or “freeze”) access to personal information
in their credit reports. This can prevent
identity thieves from taking out new loans
and credit in your name. You must contact
each of the three consumer credit reporting
companies and make a request in writing
with delivery confirmation or via telephone
or secure electronic means. Freezes limit
a consumer’s ability to get “instant credit,”
which may slow credit applications, but
you can take a freeze off of your account
at any time.
When a credit reporting agency suffers a
breach of information containing consumer
Social Security numbers, the agency must
provide identity theft prevention services
and, if applicable, identity theft mitigation
services to affected customers.
HELP PREVENT
CHILD IDENTITY THEFT
With child identity theft on the rise, it’s
more important than ever to safeguard your
child’s credit. New York State law allows
parents and guardians to place a security
freeze on their minor child’s credit record.
For more information visit dos.ny.gov/what-
you-should-know-about-child-identity-theft.
