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