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What is identity theft?

Instead of stealing your property, the criminal rage of the decade is to steal your vital personal information and use that information to access your accounts, cash, good name, and credit history. Thieves may open a credit card in your name, open utility accounts, open a bank account and pass off bad checks, apply for loans against your assets, or seek employment as you, etc.

What to do if ID theft is suspected?

ID theft can be costly to beat, in terms of dollars, time and aggravation. You will need to have your credit history cleaned up and convince creditors that the damage was done by others and not you. Often a lawyer may need to get creditors off your back and restore your credit. Mopping up this type of mess is neither cheap nor easy, but necessary. There are steps you should take immediately- that cost you nothing but your time- to contain the damage that has already been done and to prevent additional damage by the ID thieves.

Try these simple and free steps:

Have a fraud alert placed on your credit report at each of the three major credit agencies. This will prevent the thief from continuing to acquire new credit in your name. There is no charge for fraud alert.

Get a copy of the Federal Trade Commission ID Theft Affidavit form. It will make reporting the fraud to the various parties easier. The FTC is also an excellent resource for information on this topic.

www.consumer.gov/idtheft

1-800-438-4338

Close all accounts that you think have been jeopardized or are at risk. Close all accounts opened by the perpetrator.

Visit the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse to learn how to prevent ID theft.

www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs17-it.htm

Things you can do to help prevent identity theft:

Opt out of receiving unrequested pre-approved credit and insurance offers. This type of material requires access to your credit information- whether you approved it or not. Leaving pre-approved credit in your mail box is very risky.

Call

1-888-567-8688

RECENT NEW YORK STATE LAW MAKES FREEZING YOUR CREDIT ACCOUNTS EASIER AND CHEAP TO DO!

Your credit accounts can now be frozen indefinitely to prevent the opening of new credit in your name. If you were a victim of Identity Theft, each agency must implement this for free upon request. If you just decide to take the extra precaution, the most you can be charged is $5 to freeze your account at each of the three agencies. (If you decide to do this, you should do it at each of the three credit reporting bureaus.)

See the link below for more information.

http://www.consumersunion.org/campaigns/learn_more/003484indiv.html