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Identity theft is a growing
problem in America because it is a very high profit, low risk crime and
Police forces are so overwhelmed dealing with homicides and homeland
security issues that they don’t have time to focus on what is essentially
white-collar crime. Identity theft occurs due to many reasons, fraud,
scam, spyware, carelessness and more.
More than 161,000 consumers filed complaints with the
 government about identity theft last year, according to the Federal Trade
Commission, which maintains a database of cases. That’s nearly double the
number in 2001.
Thieves generally try to get
hold of basic financial information about their victims from Social Security
numbers to credit card and bank account numbers. They either empty the
checking and savings accounts, run up massive bills on the victim’s cards or
open new credit in the victim’s name. Some go so far as to purchase new
cars and homes under the assumed identities, or establish long-distance cell
phone service.
Losses can run into
thousands of dollars and it can take years for consumers to clean up the
mess. Victims have to go back to each credit bureau separately to clean up
their files, because each generally has different information and new
information may keep popping up.
What to do if you become
a victim:
The Identity Theft Resource
Center, which operates the web site
www.idtheftcenter.org, has volunteers nationwide to help victims clear
up their financial problems. The center previously was part of the Privacy
Rights Clearinghouse, which has extensive ‘how to’ information on its site
at
www.privacyrights.org.
A new program to help
identity theft victims has been set up by Call For Action Inc., a nonprofit
group that partners with radio and television stations to sponsor consumer
hot lines. With a grant from credit card company Visa USA, Call For Action
has set up a toll free number at 866-ID-Hotline (866-434-6854) to provide
phone counseling for identity theft victims. Prevention tips can be found
on its web site at
www.callforaction.org.
The toll-free numbers and Web
address for contacting the credit bureaus are:
Besides contacting the
credit agencies, consumers also should contact the Federal Trade
Commission’s ID Theft Clearinghouse, either by phone at (877) ID-THEFT (877
438-4338) or on the web at
www.consumer.gov/idtheft. Consumers can report identity theft as well
as get help in dealing with it, including online affidavit forms.
Preventing identity
theft:
Buy a paper shedder,
preferably a cross-cut shredder that can also shred credit cards. Shred
every thing you throw away that contains any personally identifiable
information, especially credit card offers you receive in the mail or any
other type of offers that identity you by name. Don’t forget credit card
receipts, deposit receipts, letters and catalogs that have your name on
them.
When eating out and paying
by credit card, don’t let it out of your site. Go with the waitress to the
cash register and watch the card while it’s being scanned. Get the card
back into your possession as soon as you can. Always ask for the carbons
even if they offer to wad them up and throw them away for you. When entering
your PIN for a transaction, be certain that no one can see the number as you
enter it. Two
additional ways to protect yourself is (1) get a spyware program, such as
XoftSpy
and run it at least weekly, (2) install a firewall
such as
ZoneAlarm . These will
help protect you from identity theft that can
occur through your Internet connection, it's needed for broadband (cable or DSL) and
dial-up connections. |
