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What is
ID Theft
IDENTITY THEFT LAWS
AND RESOURCES
-What is Identity Theft
-Protecting Yourself
-Identity Theft Resources
-Identity Theft Monitoring Protection
-Opt-Out Services
The FTC recorded 214,905
cases of identity theft in 2003, up from 161,836 in 2002. If you
have ever had your identity stolen, then you know first hand what
terror you go through. Someone has literally assumed your identity
and is trailing a long history of credit card abuse and personal
information all over the Internet, to your creditors and possibly
worse. Enjoy the feeling of security knowing that your credit
report is accurate.
Theft of identity is
on the rise. Often the first notice consumers get that someone
has fraudulently assumed their identity is either a call from
a collection agency demanding payment on an overdue credit account
which they never opened or when their own monthly billing statements
do not arrive in the mail and they find out the address on their
account has been changed by an identity thief. Most victims never
learn how the identity thieves accessed their personal identifying
information.
Minimize Your Risk
In the course of a busy day, you may write a check at the grocery
store, charge tickets to a ball game, rent a car, mail your tax
returns, call home on your cell phone, order new checks, or apply
for a credit card. Everyday transactions that you may never give
a second thought to are an identity thief's bread and butter. Each
of these transactions requires the sharing of personal information:
your bank and credit card account numbers; your income, Social Security
number and name, address and phone numbers, to name a few. While
you can't prevent identity theft, you can minimize your risk by
managing your personal information wisely.
Catching Identity
Theft Early
Sometimes an ID thief can strike even when you've been very careful.
One of the best ways to catch identity theft is to regularly check
your credit record. Order your credit report from each of the three
major credit bureaus each year and make sure all the information
is correct. Also, follow up with creditors if your bills do not
arrive on time. A missing credit card bill could mean an identity
thief has taken over your credit card account and changed your billing
address to cover his tracks.
Identity Theft Resources
| -Avoiding
Identity Theft |
| Shred
all credit card receipts and solicitations, canceled checks
and financial documents before throwing away. |
| Check
your credit card statements and immediately report unauthorized
purchases. |
| Don’t
give out your Social Security number, mother’s maiden name,
or any account information over the phone, unless you are sure
the caller is legitimate. |
| Never
include your Social Security number on personal checks. |
| Do
not allow sales clerks to copy your credit card numbers on to
checks for additional information. |
| Call
your credit card company if your card has expired and you have
not received a new one. |
| Carry
only a few credit cards with you. |
| Never
write down Pins and passwords: memorize them. |
Opt out Services From
Telemarketing
You've probably been on the other end of all those solicitations
ending up in your email, mailbox and phone calls. Those offers can
really pile up and are extremely annoying to many people. There
is a way to reduce your bulk mail advertisements. There are three
lists to opt out from. There is opting out from telephone, email
and mail. The Directory below supplies you with the information
to "Opt Out"
DMA - DIRECT MARKETING
ASSOCIATION
Opting out by phone
-Telephone Services
PO Box 9014
Farmingdale, NY 11735
212-768-7277
Opting out by mail
-Mail Service
PO Box 9008
Farmingdale, NY 11735-9014
Opt out by email
www.e-mps.org
The Credit Bureaus
There are three national credit bureaus. Experian, Equifax and
Trans Union. These credit bureaus share your personal information
with telemarketers, insurance companies and financial services companies.
You can opt out with these companies as well simply by calling the
designated phone number.
Opt out from the credit
bureaus
1-888-567-8688
Opting out from other
directories
There are several other directories that carry information about
you especially if you are listed in any phone book, voter's registration
or if you're a homeowner.
Haines Criss Cross
1-800-562-8262
To opt out by mail
use this simple letter.
To: List Service
Date: today's date
To whom it may concern,
I am aware that I am
listed in your directory. At my request, please remove my name from
these lists effective immediately. Below is the information you
need to complete my request.
Your full name:
Your current address:
Previous mailing address:
Your signature:
Laws governing Identity
Theft
Gramm-Leach-Bliley
Act of 2002
FTC Seeks Comment on Proposed Credit Report Rule
Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (HR 2622)
Credit Repair Organizations Act
Electronic Fund Transfer Act
Equal Credit Opportunity Act
Fair Credit Reporting Act
Identity Theft And Assumption Deterrence Act
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