| Identity theft is a fast growing crime that victimizes | | | | Victims of this crime may not realize they have been |
| over ten million people each year. This crime cost you, | | | | had until the collection agency calls begin to ring their |
| me and everyone else billions of dollars in lost wages, | | | | phone. A bank may try to repossess a car that the |
| savings, and time. Identity theft is much more than | | | | victim knows nothing about. The police may contact |
| some extra paper work for the victim, it is a life | | | | the victim about a crime committed with his name. |
| changing problem that just won't disappear as fast as | | | | Identity thieves may use your personal information to |
| your money. | | | | rent an apartment or set up phone service and make |
| This problem can affect businesses as well as | | | | thousands of dollars in long distance calls. |
| individuals. | | | | Prevention is the first step to avoiding a big mess. |
| There are continuing reports of security breaches, | | | | Education and knowledge are the first line of defense |
| computer systems getting "hacked" and millions of | | | | against this crime. An understanding of the tactic and |
| personal records stolen from large and small | | | | methods used by identity thieves can go a long way |
| corporations as well as government entities. These | | | | toward keeping your personal information out of the |
| thefts cause individuals to cancel accounts, credit | | | | wrong hands. |
| cards, and take other difficult frustrating measures to | | | | Methods are common among these thieves. |
| try to protect their assets. | | | | Some very popular methods of stealing your personal |
| Identity theft is fraud. | | | | information include, online "phishing"emails and spoof |
| When someone uses your personal information such | | | | websites, mail theft, dumpster diving for discarded |
| as your name, Social Security number, or other | | | | documents, and atm and credit card skimming. |
| identifying information, without your permission, they | | | | Identity theft methods can be hard to spot if you don't |
| have committed the crime of fraud. Fraud is a broad | | | | know what to look for. |
| definition that ranges from stealing medical records to | | | | With a knowledge of some of the basic methods and |
| mortgage information. Identity theft also may include | | | | a few precautions such as using a paper shredder for |
| mail fraud, credit card theft, or check fraud. | | | | all your personal documents, you can be confident that |
| Financial Identity Theft is the most common form of | | | | you will be safe on line or at the department store. |
| this crime. | | | | Although a determined thief will take your information in |
| The criminal may use your name and SSN to apply for | | | | spite of all your efforts to thwart his crime, by learning |
| credit cards, loans, on line purchases, or car leases. | | | | about the methods and tactics of the identity theft |
| Generally the thief will use the stolen information or | | | | criminal, you can keep yourself safe from the casual |
| credit card to run up charges on the account. The | | | | or opportunistic criminal. Be aware of your surroundings |
| account owner may not realize he has been the victim | | | | and actions, monitor your credit card accounts |
| of a crime until months later. | | | | regularly, and keep your personal information private. |
| Calls from a collection agency may be your first clue. | | | | |