Believe it or not, wants someone to turn to. Not for the rest of his life, but only long enough to be your credit cards, bank accounts and everything that can benefit for their own personal use.
By steal your identity. Even if someone is stealing your identity is not new (read the Bible), it seems, has risen to new heights.
The FBI says that crime has grown from 23,000 people in 1992 a 360.000 in 1998 and report the impressive statistics onMillion cases in 2002.
Identity theft occurs when someone in your name, address, credit card numbers and / or social security number and use this information to the new charge accounts, to use the goods, money and obtain goods and services that open when you steal.
The sad reality is knowing the consumers targeted by identity thieves usually do not, are victims until the thieves to pay the bills or repay the loan, and collection agencies begin dunning --Consumers to pay the bills, did not even know they had.
All the major newspapers, magazines and newsletters, both on and off line, given the stories about this issue. However, it can not hurt to raise the issue to the fore once again. Just do not understand too much information when it comes to fraud, fraud and racketeering.
"When someone hijacks a consumer's identity can be a nightmare," said Jodie Bernstein, director of the FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection. TheDirector just summarized the situation in a short sentence.
Imagine waking up one morning and find a different person, but you know that are not true, as you are there. Confusion? Not for traders, banks, credit and finance companies, which extended the credit or money for the "not" you. They believed that the "not" It was you n since "not" They had the correct ID to prove (he) Tu.
Welcome to Nightmare Village. Can take Unraveling this spider web of deceit, lies and theftYears ago with the "real" is an enormous loss. While all identity theft can not be stopped, consumers can take certain precautions to reduce the chances of this happening to their reduction.
For example, the call to the FTC at this toll free number, 1-877-IDTHEFT (877-438-4338), two things will be achieved. One of the victims of identity theft can be a crime to the FTC and two, one relationship at a time, trained by consultants telephone counseling to assist victims of identity theft.
For thoseis common sense about the use of the Internet, an online consumer complaint form www.consumer removed. gov / http://www.consumer idtheft [. gov / idtheft] victim of identity theft complaint data directly from their secure database in the FTC, the site will be offered.
I'm not sure that you only use the FTC to resolve the problem. Heck, is a body of state and government agencies are notoriously slow, but nobody helps. But before I wrote this article, I visited thePlace and not only found the above information, but also that the site contains links to numerous consumer education materials, and the laws of the state, identity theft, articles and reports.
The FTC also offers a 21-page booklet that addresses identity theft and is available at www.consumer. Idtheft Gov / [http://www.consumer. Gov / idtheft]
The FTC is not the only consumer champion in the universe. American Association of Retired Persons, Kiwanis, Moose, newspapers,TV stations, the local district attorney, sheriff and police all the information and / or direct assistance to victims.
Use your favorite search engine to search for other organizations and groups that help and support. Internet is one of the best resources in the world, because there is no immediate feedback. Once you realize that you have stolen, please contact your local authorities and start surfing.
I hope that these guidelines will prevent you from making aVictims. You are repeating the gestures of common sense, but it's worth, if for no other reason than to tell them to leave foresquare in our heads when sensitive personal data.
1. Be available for personal information like Social Security number, date of estimation of birth, mother's maiden name, type, etc.) to someone on the phone (or on the Internet if you do not carry the transaction. They never give it to someone that contacts you are looking to sell out of the blue light of a product orService.
2. Not just throw away old bills, bank statements or credit card. Shred them or a pair of scissors and cut them into pieces. The same applies to investment statements. The Securities and Exchange Commission's website, http://www.sec. Governor has more information.
3. Enter your card number, Social Security (or your kids social security numbers) in your wallet or anywhere on your person or car. Take time to remember these numbers. You should alsoIt's called the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 to request a copy of your SS earnings. If someone has used your number to get a job, for example, the amounts will be deducted from their check for the report. 1-800-269-0271 is the SSA Fraud Hotline.
4. Put passwords on credit cards and bank accounts to make it harder for an ID thief to make changes, or "taking over" your account. One of the most common password is the name of your mother's maiden name. Identity thieves know this sochoose another word. If your checks are stolen, lost or gone, to put an end to it immediately. Then call the 3 major check verification companies (that retailers warning below):
TeleCheck - 1-800-710-9898
International Service Check - 1-800-631-9656
Equifax - 1-800-437-5120
5. Order your credit reports once a year from each of the three national credit agencies. They cost about $ 10 $ 30, but you can spend a life of pain and expense. As of this writing, was a lawadoption of a mandatory reporting agencies (see paragraph 6) It gives a free copy, no questions asked. Send me an e-mail to the following e-mail and I read more.
6. If you discover your identity is stolen, call the fraud departments of all three credit bureaus:
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285 (http://www.equifax.com)
Experian: 1-888-397-3742 Formerly TRW. (Http: / / www.experian.com)
TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289 (http://www.transunion.com)
and tell themPut a notice of "fraud" on your file. This tells creditors to call before they have other accounts in your name.
If you suspect fraud in Internet-based, see: [http://www.ifccfbi. Gov / Default.asp] and report. This is a joint venture between the FBI and National White Collar Crime Center.
7. Ask for a copy of your credit report and request the credit for the office to remove any false or fraudulent information. You should also call 1-888-567-8688 to stop the tidePreapproved credit cards arriving in your inbox.
8. Contact the lenders involved - such as banking or credit card issuers who opened the fraudulent account or access your existing accounts. Immediately close all accounts involved. Yes, it's a pain in the back, but if you can not make a tacit agreement that it was you who opened the account.
9. Contact the local police and request a report file. As you can benefit in two ways. One,Police are now warning that someone is a crime, and two, with a police report, when you can settle your credit record after the obligation to help. This is important. At the federal level, the FBI for information about identity theft to: [http://www.usdoj has. Gov / criminal / fraud / idtheft.html] You can not go wrong perdicament your reference to the G-Men.
10. If you live in a state where your social security number is the number of driving license, you can lobbyRepresentative changes back to the old numbering. Likewise, (most people do not realize, the DMV include information such as name, address, sex, age, social security number, health problems, medication), if you live in a state to sell your information You can lobby for this practice. quit
As I said earlier in this article, these precautions do not cease to identify a fraudster, but it will be difficult for him / her to succeed might also save a lot of effort andTribulation.
Favors the prepared someone once said.
Make yourself warned.
Fine --
2004 (c) This item may not be reprinted without the permission of the author, can be reached at tom-koziol@excite.com
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