IDENTITY THEFT - WHAT YOU CAN DO - UPDATED 1-18-07
The Department of Justice estimates there are 500,000 to 700,000 identity theft victims a year. The Federal Trade Commission recently released a survey showing that 27.3 million people have been victims of identity theft in the past five years, including 9.9 million this year alone. In 2002, identity-theft losses to businesses and financial institutions totaled nearly $48 billion, and consumer victims reported $5 billion in out-of-pocket expenses, according to the survey. Individual victims lost an average of $1,180.
Reports of Internet-related fraud now account for more than half the consumer complaints filed with the Federal Trade Commission, the agency said on 1-22-04. Internet-related fraud was the subject of 55 % of the more than half-million complaints filed in 2003, up from 45 % a year earlier, the F.T.C. said. The median loss for victims of Internet-related fraud was $195. DON'T BELIEVE PROMISES MADE ON THE INTERNET. THE INTERNET DOES NOT HAVE INTEGRITY. Know who you are dealing with - even on the Internet!!!
Here are suggestions for you:
• If you do have your identity stolen, you should immediately call any one of the credit agencies listed below. A new Federal law requires them to share that information.
• Never enter a raffle where they want your name, address & phone number. Fairs and movey theater lobbies are notorious for this. Your information is USUALLY sold to anyone that will pay for it!
• NEVER CONTRIBUTE TO A CHARITY OR BUY ANYTHING SOLICITED OVER THE PHONE OR BY SPAM (bulk unsolicited) EMAIL, or by regular bulk mail! This is the most fraudulent haven for crooks. False charitable requests, and gathering of information used for identity theft are more prevalent on the web than anywhere else. Don't ever believe any unsolicited charity!!!
• Buy and use a shredder. Confetti shredders are better than strip shredders Shred bills, envelopes, and catalogs. Shred anything that has any of your account numbers on it. If all else fails, put your papers in a plastic bag & put water in the bag. Be SURE to shred "pre-approved" credit offers and old credit cards. And, many "pre-approved" offers aren't really pre-approved!
• Don't have new checks mailed to your home(unless your mail slot goes directly into your home where it is safe). Have checks sent to you at work if possible. Keep track of consecutive check numbers. Store blank checks securely. If any are lost or stolen, immediately contact your bank. Also, ask for and use tamper proof printed checks.
• Have social security, income tax refunds, and other payments directly deposited to your account. Social security & other checks are often stolen from the mails.
• If you stop getting mail you are expecting, immediately investigate to see if some or all of your mail has been diverted falsely. This is done by calling or writing your credit companies etc. Anyone can easily put a change of address in at the post office.
• Do not furnish a credit application to anyone unless you really want the credit! Car dealers are terrible about this. They often require you to fill out a credit application before one is really needed. Simply say NO!!!
• Do NOT furnish information over the Internet unless the connection is secure.
• When registering products, ONLY FURNISH information absolutely needed and required for notification about about recalls.
• If possible, mail outgoing mail at post office, not at a post office mailbox. Don't leave out at home!If not possible, find out when the mailbox is picked up and mail just before pickup. (Dates & times of pickups are usually by the pull down chute). Crooks are now stealing mail by fishing it out of post office mailboxes.
• Your social security number. Sadly, your social security number is easily obtained! No matter how hard you try, your social security is easily located. Still, try not to furnish it.
• Your Birthdate Try NOT to furnish your Birthdate! Your name and Birthdate tells as much or more about you than your social security number.
• Never have drivers license, Social Security number, or Birthdate printed on your checks.
• Don't believe someone who promises to remove negative information from your credit report.
• You can obtain a copy of your credit report directly. A brand new Federal law lets you request one every year. Call:(Or email or write)
• Read & review your credit card and bank statements every month. Report any discrepancies or fraud to them IMMEDIATELY! If they do not respond within 30 days, they are required to remove the incorrect charges. If they do respond, you must dispute or furnish additional information they request.
• Information about you IS available on the Internet Although this is restricted in the US, confidential information is readily available (usually for a fee) from websites located outside the US! Since one of the benefits of the Internet is access to and from all over the world, there isn't any easy, practical way to restrict access to information stored on servers located overseas.
Some CPA's are sending clients income tax return information to India to process. Tax preparers there are VERY inexpensive. U.S. CPA's simply scan in their clients' income tax information and the information is accessed overnight by the offshore workers. Completed returns are made available the next day for downloading and review by the CPA, who then packages them under his or her letterhead and presents them to clients as if the work had been done in-house. The CPA charges the same rate as returns prepared in the USA. My main concern is that your information might be stolen to steal your identity YOU CAN BE ABSOLUTELY ASSURED THAT I WILL NEVER SEND YOUR INFORMATION OUTSIDE THE USA TO BE PROCESSED!!
Information specifically about identity theft from: US Postal Service.... or ...Federal Trade Commission