| Becoming a major epidemic, Identity Theft | | | | with a legitimate business or organization. |
| occurs when a criminal uses another person's | | | | (If you are unsure about an online |
| personal information to take on that person's | | | | communication, check the organization's |
| identity. Identity theft includes the misuse | | | | website by typing its URL in the address |
| of a Social Security number, credit cards, | | | | line. Most large companies post alerts on |
| mail fraud, scam, schemes, frauds, or any | | | | their sites when they are aware of a scam |
| other form of misuse or abuse of a victim's | | | | when their name is used improperly.) |
| identity. | | | | |
| | | | Identity thieves usually pose as |
| The Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act, | | | | representatives of banks, lotteries, |
| known commonly as FACTA, was put into law in | | | | sweepstakes, internet service providers, or |
| the United States to help to protect | | | | some other officially-sounding-entity. They |
| consumers from identity theft and to help in | | | | will use any means possible to try to get you |
| its prevention. FACTA ensures that all | | | | to reveal your valuable information. |
| citizens are treated fairly when they apply | | | | |
| for a mortgage or other form of credit and it | | | | 7. Call the Customer Service Department of |
| entitles them to a free annual credit report | | | | companies or organizations with whom you do |
| to verify its accuracy. | | | | business using the number listed on your |
| | | | account statement or in the telephone book. |
| There is no guarantee that you will never be | | | | |
| a victim; however, there are steps you can | | | | 8. Do not place passwords on your credit |
| take to minimize your risk. Here is a list of | | | | card, bank, or telephone accounts. |
| 14 steps you can take to prevent or at least | | | | |
| minimize its occurrence: | | | | 9. When choosing a password, avoid using |
| | | | obvious information like your mother's maiden |
| 1. Manage your personal information | | | | name, your birth date, a series of |
| cautiously and with a new awareness that | | | | consecutive numbers, or the last four digits |
| identity theft can occur anytime anywhere and | | | | of your Social Security Number or your phone |
| when you least expect it. | | | | number. |
| | | | |
| 2. Ask about security procedures in your | | | | 10. Pay attention to your billing cycles. A |
| workplace, doctor's office, or other business | | | | missing bill could mean an identity thief has |
| or organization that routinely collects | | | | gotten their hands on it. |
| relevant and personal identifying information | | | | |
| as part of doing business or providing a | | | | "9.9 million people were victims of identity |
| service. Find out who has access to your | | | | theft in 2002", according to the Federal |
| personal information and verify that it is | | | | Trade Commission. Don't wait until it happens |
| handled securely. Inquire about their | | | | to you. |
| disposal procedures and if your information | | | | |
| will be shared with anyone else (namely third | | | | 11. Be wary of promotional scams or phony |
| parties such as mailing list companies, | | | | offers to get you to give them your personal |
| marketing and survey companies, etc.). | | | | information such as lottery and sweepsatkes |
| | | | that you have never entered and ones asking |
| 3. Instead of giving your Social Security | | | | for an "administration" fee. |
| Number, inquire if you can use other types of | | | | |
| identification. Use your Social Security | | | | 12. If your job requires you to suit up in |
| Number with caution and only when absolutely | | | | special clothing at work, never leave your |
| necessary. | | | | purse or wallet in your personal clothes. |
| | | | Always keep them in a safe and secured place. |
| "Your Chances of becoming victimized by some | | | | |
| form of identity theft is one in ten," | | | | 13. When reordering checks, pick them up at |
| according to the Federal Trade Commission. | | | | the bank instead of having them sent to your |
| | | | mailbox. |
| 4. If you find that you have been vitimized, | | | | |
| immediately file a complaint with the Federal | | | | 14. Obtain a current credit report by |
| Trade Commission. The FTC maintains a | | | | contacting any of these major credit bureaus: |
| database of identity theft cases used by law | | | | |
| enforcement agencies for investigations. | | | | Equifax: P.O. Box 740241 Atlanta, GA |
| Filing a complaint helps the FTC learn more | | | | 30374-0241 |
| about identity theft and the problems victims | | | | |
| are having. This knowledge helps them to | | | | For Fraud Alerts, call: 800-525-6285 |
| assist you better. | | | | |
| | | | Experian: P.O. Box 2002 Allen TX 75013 |
| 5. Carry only the identification and the | | | | |
| number of credit and debit cards that you | | | | For Fraud Alerts, call: 888-EXPERIAN |
| will actually use. Leave extra cards in a | | | | (397-3742) |
| safe place at home, in a safety deposit box, | | | | |
| or any other secured location. | | | | Trans Union: P.O. Box 1000, Chester, PA 19022 |
| | | | |
| 6. Avoid giving out personal information on | | | | For Fraud Alerts, call: 800-680-7289 Think |
| the phone, through the mail, or on the | | | | you're not at risk? Unfortunately, you are. |
| internet unless you are absolutely sure you | | | | View "Protecting Your Identity" blog at to |
| know and can trust with whom you are | | | | learn more about what you can do to protect |
| communicating. Caution: Before you share | | | | yours. |
| personal information, be sure you are dealing | | | | |