The Service Tree lists all services in "branched" groups, starting with the very general and moving to the very specific. Click on the name of any group name to see the sub-groups available within it. Click on a service code to see its details and the providers who offer that service.
Identity Theft Reporting/Recovery Programs
Criminal Identity Theft Reporting
Programs that provide a hotline, website or other mechanisms that people can use to report scams involving someone who has been cited or arrested for a crime using another person's name and identifying information with the result that a criminal record is created in his or her name. When this occurs, the victim of criminal identity theft may have problems with law enforcement or be unable to gain employment.
Deceased Identity Theft Reporting
Programs that provide a hotline, website or other mechanisms that people can use to report scams that occur when the scammer resorts to "ghosting", a form of identity theft that occurs when someone uses the personal information of a dead person, often for monetary gain. Ghosting usually happens shortly after someone dies, before the death is widely known. The crimes can be successful because it can be months after a person dies before entities like credit reporting agencies, the Social Security Administration, and the IRS receive, share or register death records. A savvy criminal can take over bank accounts, apply for new credit cards, and even file for fraudulent tax refunds.
Financial Identity Theft Reporting
Programs that provide a hotline, website or other mechanisms that people can use to report criminal activity that involves accessing someone's personal information for fraudulent financial gain. One common example of financial identity fraud is someone stealing a person's credit card information to make purchases without their knowledge. However, credit card fraud is just the tip of the iceberg. With enough of an individual's personal information, criminals can successfully apply for new credit cards and loans in their name, drain their checking account, and even get a job in their name to receive a bogus income tax refund — leaving the victim on the hook for their bills until they can prove that it wasn't them.
Medical Identity Theft Reporting
Programs that provide a hotline, website or other mechanisms that people can use to report the theft or use of someone's personal information (e.g., their name, Social Security number, Medicare number or COVID-19 vaccination card) to falsely represent that person including submitting fraudulent claims to Medicare and other health insurers without their authorization or knowledge. Vaccination cards in particular should never be posted as images online, and offers to purchase such cards should also be reported.
Social Media Identity Theft Reporting
Programs that provide a hotline, website or other mechanisms that people can use to report situations in which the individual thinks someone is using their personal information to impersonate them and create fake social media profiles that they control. Victims of this form of identity theft need to report the issue to the social media site involved (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn) and, going forward, set privacy features to limit who can see their posts, photos and personal information. If the victim believes anything posted on the fake profile is illegal content such as death threats, violent threats, or hate crime threats, they need to contact their local police department.
Social Security Identity Theft Reporting
Programs that provide a hotline, website or other mechanisms that people can use to report the theft of an individual's Social Security number, which can be used to get other personal information. Identity thieves can use a person's Social Security number and their good credit to apply for more credit in their name. Then, they use the credit cards and don't pay the bills, damaging the victim's credit. The victim may not find out that someone is using their number until they are turned down for credit, or begin to get calls from unknown creditors demanding payment for items they never bought. Someone illegally using a person's Social Security number and assuming their identity can cause a lot of problems. The number is confidential. The Social Security Administration protects people's Social Security numbers and keeps their records confidential. People should be careful about sharing their number, should ask why their number is needed, how it'll be used, and what will happen if they refuse.
