Identity Theft

Identity theft involves someone stealing and using your personal information, for example, your name, address, birth date, social security number, credit card number, or bank account information, to create fraudulent accounts, to charge items to another person's existing accounts, or to get a job. Identity theft is a crime, and the thief personally profits at your expense.

If you receive an application for a preapproved credit card in the mail and toss it in the trash without tearing up the enclosed materials, criminals may retrieve it and try to activate the card for their use without your knowledge. If the criminal takes steps to ensure that bills for the falsely obtained credit cards, or bank statements showing the unauthorized withdrawals, are sent to an address other than the victim's, the victim may not become aware of what is happing until the criminal has already inflicted substantial damage on the victim's assets, credit, and reputation.

A criminal can take over an individual's identity to conduct a wide range of crimes such as:

• False applications for loans and credit cards.
• Fraudulent withdrawals from bank accounts.
• Fraudulent use of telephone calling cards.
• Obtaining other goods or privileges which the criminal might be denied if he were to use his real name.

Criminals can obtain your personal information without having to break into your home:

• Criminals may watch you from a nearby location as you punch in your telephone calling card number or credit card number.
• Listen in on your conversation if you give your credit card number over the telephone to a hotel or rental car company.
• Go through your garbage cans or a communal dumpster or trash bin to obtain copies of your checks, credit card or bank statements, or other records that typically bear your name, address, or telephone number.

If you think you've become a victim of identity theft or fraud, act immediately.
Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

By Telephone:
Toll Free 1-877-ID THEFT (877-438-4338)
TDD at 202-326-2502

or

By Mail:
Consumer Response Center
FTC
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20580

or

Online:
The United States government's central website for information about identity theft:
www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft

The FTC's uniform fraud affidavit form is available at www.ftc.gov (Federal Trade Commission)

You can also report crimes relating to identity theft and fraud to:
The FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) at www.fbi.gov
The United States Secret Service at www.secretservice.gov

References:
www.usdoj.gov/criminal/fraud/idtheft.html

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