Protection From Identity Theft

The Federal Trade Commission claims "Your Chances of becoming victimized by some form of identity theft is one in ten," According to the Spam Law website, "As many as 10 million Americans a year are victims of identity theft."

What Is Identity Theft?
Identity theft is when the identity thief steals your personal information, then uses the information to claim they are you in order to steal your financial identity.

How Do Identity Thieves Get Your Personal Information?
There are many ways your personal information can be stolen. Here are a only a few:

-From your wallet, purse, or checkbook.
-From your mailbox.
-From statements and receipts found in the trash.
-From a computer where your personal information is kept.

Who Is An Identity Thief?
Studies have shown that many identity thieves are people the you know and trust. Others are:

-Those criminals who stumble upon your personal information
-Those criminals actively seeking victims
-Your roommates.
-Person you meet at a social gatherings.
-Your housekeeper or anyone having access to your home.
-Persons posing as representatives of banks, internet service providers, or some other officially-sounding-organizations.

Tips To Help Protect Your Identity:

-Always use your Social Security Number with extreme caution and only when necessary.
-Find out who has access to your personal information where you work, your doctor's office, or other business that collect your personal information.
-Never provide personal information on the phone, through the mail, or on the internet if you do not know those requesting the information.
-When choosing a password, avoid using obvious information such as your birth date, your phone number.
-Watch out for offers, such as lottery and sweepstakes, requesting your personal information.

Steps You Can Take To Restore Your Identity:

-Immediately file your complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.
-Obtain a police report.
-Contact and provide a fraud notification alert to the Social Security Administration, all of your financial institutions, the 3 major credit bureaus, the Passport Office, The Department of Motor Vehicles, the Post Office, as well as the Medical Information Bureau .
-Cancel your credit cards.
-Place a notice on your bank accounts.

Where To Get More Information:

-The Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act, known commonly as FACTA, was put into law in the United States to help to protect consumers from identity theft and to help in its prevention.
GO HERE: FACTA!

-Learn more about what you can do to protect your identity.
GO HERE: Protecting Your Identity

-Want some statistics?
GO HERE: Spam Laws

-To obtain a current credit report contact any of these major credit bureaus:
Equifax, For Fraud Alerts, call: 800-525-6285
Experian, For Fraud Alerts, call: 888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
Trans Union, For Fraud Alerts, call: 800-680-7289