IDENTITY THEFT - A PROBLEM ON THE RISE

Stealing your Social Security Number, insurance data or other personal information has become one of Americas fastest-growing crimes. Between 500,000 and 700,000 citizens become victims annually. There are many ways your identity can be stolen and used for fraudulent means by the criminal element, such as insurance fraud (staged car accidents), fraudulent medical billing and outright theft of the identity for running up charges against the legitimate victims credit, just to name a few. Often times, the innocent victim is not aware of the identity theft until months later, after the thief has moved on and is using someone else's now stolen identity. By the time you find out, you could have your credit ruined, not to say the problem left for you to correct the unauthorized charges to your accounts or in accounts opened in your name. Your drivers license number, Social Security Number and credit card numbers are the most sought after. With the rapid increase in the use of the Internet and E-Commerce, to make purchases, your personal information is becoming easier to obtain by the criminal. Many legitimate information provider companies exist that will sell your data for a fee. The laws have gotten more stringent in the recent years, but the data is still very easily obtainable.

STEPS TO HELP PREVENT OR LESSEN YOUR CHANCE OF YOUR IDENTITY BEING STOLEN:

1. Do not give your Social Security Number out unless it is absolutely necessary, because it is the major key to your credit.
• Don't print your SSN or drivers license number on your checks..
• If your state, such as Indiana uses your SSN as your drivers license.
number, apply to have it changed if your state allows it..
• Order your Social Security Earnings and Benefits Statement once a year to check for fraudulent use of it. Example: Criminals may use your identity for the purpose of working or obtaining unemployment, etc. under an assumed name (yours). My nephew had his SSN used for such fraudulent use, by an illegal immigrant to get work.
2. Reduce the number of credit cards you use. If you don't use it, cancel it (don't just cut it up, actually cancel it, then cut it up).
• Keep a list or photocopy of your credit card information. If fraudulent charges appear, call the CONSUMER CREDIT COUNSELING SERVICE at (800) 388-2227 for help to clear false or incorrect claims from your accounts.
• If you receive credit applications in the mail, as we all do daily, shred it to make sure the blank form does not fall into the wrong hands. If a criminal gets a hold of it, they may take it and apply for a card in your name. Plus, some of these forms may have personal information on them that you do not want known to others.
• Be aware of merchant fraud on the Internet. Remember, you usually don't personally know who is operating that web page where you make your purchases. Use only ones that you are reasonably sure of.
• Order your credit report once a year, to also check for possible fraudulent accounts or charges placed on it. There are three major credit reporting bureaus (listed below), and each may have different information or no information on you.
  
  
1. Equifax Credit Reporting Bureau
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA. 30374
(880) 685-1111 (To order copy of your report)
To remove your name from receiving these pre-approved credit offers and marketing lists call (800) 567-8688.
2. Experian Credit Reporting Bureau
   (Formerly TRW)
   P.O. Box 949
   Allen, Texas 75013
   (888) 397-3742 (To order copy of your report)
   To remove your name from receiving these pre-approved credit offers and marketing lists call (800) 353-0809.
3. Trans Union
   760 Sproul Road
   P.O. Box 390
   Springfield, PA. 19064-0390
   (800) 916-8800 (To order copy of your report)
   To remove your name from receiving pre-approved credit offers and marketing lists call
   (800) 680-7293.
   
   
3. If you want to reduce the amount of unwanted telemarketing calls and/or junk mail you receive, call Direct Marketing Association's (DMA) Mail Preference Service at P.O. Box 9008, Farmingdale, New York 11735-9008. You may request that they remove your name, along with your home address from all of the mailing lists. For unwanted telephone solicitation, contact DMA's Telephone Preference Service at P.O. Box 9014, Farmingdale, New York 11735-9014.

Note: When you call any of the 800, 888 or 900 numbers, your name, address and telephone number may be captured electronically by the company you are calling. Dialing *67 before any call should, in most states conceal your identifiers.

The DMA exemption requests are only good for five (5) years. At the end of that time period, you will have to repeat the process, with another removal request. DMA only accepts "written" requests, however, they have a General information number of (212) 768-7277 that you can call.

For more information about identity fraud/theft or if you have been a victim and wish to file a complaint, you can contact the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-IDTHEFT or on line at www.consumer.gov/idtheft.

The above information was obtained from different sources and is being passed on as a community service to help the public protect themselves. These are only recommendations and are no guarantee that you may not still become a victim. However, prudent efforts on your part should greatly help reduce your odds of becoming victimized, enabling you to better protect yourself and your family.

Information provided by Marengo Police Department as a public service announcement.