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Identity Theft

Identity theft is one of the fastest growing consumer crimes in the country, affecting millions of people each year. Technology has made it easy for thieves to obtain pieces of your personal information (your S.S. number, date of birth, address etc.) and use it to ruin your credit. They may write bad checks, run up credit card balances, or take out loans, ultimately, tarnishing your name and destroying your credit rating.

Go to www.ftc.gog/idtheft or call toll-free 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338) for more information.

Here are some useful tips to help protect you and your family from these crimes:

• Don't give your Social Security number to anybody but your employer, lenders, government agencies and credit bureaus.
• Guard your computer password and only use a secure internet connection to transmit financial information. Don't use an obvious, easy to guess password.
• Always ask a merchant why they need your private information and ask if it can be kept confidential.
• Know the privacy policies of the web sites you visit and the businesses you deal with.
• Ask about information security procedures in your workplace and find out who has access to your personal information. Also verify that your information is kept in a secure place.
• Guard your mail and trash. Shred any documents that contain personal information, including bank statements, utility bills and credit card statements. You should even shred those unsolicited applications for credit you receive in the mail.
• Don't give credit card information or bank account information over the phone or internet, unless you have either initiated the contact or you are dealing with an established business.
• Do not reply to e-mail "spam", which is unwanted e-mail messages that clutter your computer's inbox. Replying to a spam message tells a spammer that your e-mail address is active.

What to do if you believe you have become a victim of an identity theft crime:

• If you become a victim of identity theft, call the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-ID-THEFT to get a copy of their ID Theft affidavit form. This affidavit will help you to report the problem to many companies using only one form. You should close each of your accounts which may have become compromised, and all accounts which have been fraudulently established.
• You will also need to contact:
  • Each of the three national credit bureaus and ask for them to put a "fraud alert" on your credit report and ask them to send you a copy of your credit file.
  • The fraud department at each creditor, bank, or utility/service that provided the thief with unauthorized credit.
  • Your local police department. Ask the officer to take a report and give you a copy of the report. Sending a copy of the police report to your financial institutions can speed up the process of absolving you of any wrongful debts and clearing your credit report.

Credit Bureaus

• EQUIFAX (www.equifax.com)1-800-685-1111, P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
• EXPERIAN (www.experian.com)1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742), P.O. Box 2104, Allen, TX 75013
• TRANSUNION (www.transunion.com)1-800-916-8800, P.O. Box 1000, Chester, PA 19022. To report fraud, call: 1-800-680-7289 or write: Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. BOX 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834.

© 2008. Law Office of Greg Cholakis. All rights reserved. Attorney Advertising Disclaimer.