Protecting Your Identity
Identity theft - the use of someone's personal identifying data to commit fraud or attempt to do so - is the nation's fastest growing crime. More than 8 million Americans fall victim to such theft annually at an enormous cost. By one estimate, such thieves pocket $15.5 billion a year. It can ruin your personal credit. And it can take hundreds of hours to undo the damage.
They may rummage through your trash, steal your wallet or "skim" encoded data off of your credit card. Or they may go "phishing" on the Internet (using misleading e-mails and fraudulent Web sites to trick you into revealing your personal data). Or they could plant "spyware" software that collects personal information as it is keyed into your computer.
How can I protect myself against identity theft?
In today's society, there is no way to protect yourself completely. Personal identifying information is used routinely to access one's ban account, for example, or to apply for a loan. In some cases, you will be required to provide such information. Still, you can take certain steps to help avoid identity theft. For some tips, see
Top 10 Tips for Identity Theft Prevention.
How do I know if someone is using my identity to run up bills?
Unfortunately, some identity thieves go undetected for long stretches of time. The victim only discovers the situation after an unsolicited credit card arrives in the mail or a debt collector calls about an unpaid - and unfamiliar - debt. Be sure to check your credit report at least once a year. If you have not yet established a credit history, don't be alarmed if you initially receive "report not found." That should be good news. If, however, you find inaccurate information on your report, contact all three major credit bureaus:
- Experian: 1-888-397-3742 www.experian.com (credit and fraud reports, security freezes)
- Equifax: 1-800-685-1111 www.equifax.com (credit reports) / 1-800-525-6285 (fraud alerts)
- TransUnion: 1-800-888-4213 www.transunion.com (credit reports) / 1-800-680-7289 (fraud reports, alerts) / 1-888-909-8872 (security freezes)
If you're an identity theft victim, you are entitled to receive one free copy of your credit report from each of these credit bureaus each month for up to a 12 consecutive months. You an also put a security alert or freeze on your credit accounts.