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Fend Off Identity Theft
The
telephone rings and a creditor questions why you have failed to make
payments on the credit card you recently requested. You're flabbergasted,
because you always make your monthly credit card payments on time
and can't recall obtaining a new credit card in well over a year.
What's
going on? It's a case of identity theft, a type of robbery in which
unauthorized individuals take over the identity of another person
and use their personal information to commit unlawful acts and profit
at the victim's expense.
Identity
theft is growing at an astronomical rate and effecting thousands of
innocent and unknowing people. According to the Federal Trade Commission
and average of 70,000 Americans reported being victims of identity
theft between November of 1999 and June of 2001. The government estimates
several hundred thousand are victimized but quite often it goes unnoticed
or they fail to report it.
Criminals
today know stealing a person's wallet is not the only way to obtain
their social security and credit card number; there are plenty of
methods. For example, more criminals are engaging in "shoulder
surfing," where they look and listen as you punch in and/or speak
your calling or credit card number. Others are "dumpster diving,"
going through dumpsters and family trash cans in search of documents
that contain your personal information, such as bank statements, credit
card receipts and offers. More sophisticated criminals are using the
Internet to hack through security codes and steal credit card numbers
and other personal information placed on the World Wide Web.
Although
the effects of identity theft aren't physically harmful, they do severely
tarnish the credit report of an individual and can often lend to the
refusal of a car loan, mortgage, and even a low limit credit card.
Once detected, the victim is usually not financially
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Fend Off Identity
Theft (Continued)
However
most people don't find out there victims until the damage is done,
because they don't believe identity theft could possibly happen to
them and when it does, it catches them off guard.
The
experts at Kessler International suggest you do the following in order
to catch and help prevent identity theft:
·
BE CAUTIOUS. You need to be extremely cautious about giving out your
personal information. If someone calls you and requests sensitive
information, such as your credit card or social security number, don't
release any information unless you initiated the call and know the
person or agency your dealing with.
·
FREQUENTLY MONITOR. You need to frequently monitor your financial
information. It's important to maintain careful records of your banking
and all other financial accounts. If your receiving your monthly statements
and were told your statements are being mailed to another address,
inform them you didn't request this change and seek assistance from
a professional
·
ALWAYS REQUEST. You need to request a copy of your credit report
each year from the three main credit agencies, Equifax, Experian,
and Trans Union. It's important to verify the information on these
reports and make sure they are accurate.
Equifax
P.O. Box 740250 Atlanta, GA 30374
800-525-6285
Experian
P.O. Box 1017 Allen, TX 75013
888-397-3742
TransUnion
P.O. Box 6790 Fullerton, CA 92634
800-680-7289
If
a person suspects their identity is being used in an illegal manner
then it's imperative to contact financial institutions and credit
reporting agencies. These agencies will begin by pasting a "fraud
alert" on your credit report, which will signal financial institutions
to contact you when new or unexpected transactions occur.
The
victims of these crimes should note that identity theft is a federal
crime, punishable under federal law. The FBI, U.S. Secret Service,
and other governmental agencies investigate these unlawful activities,
as do the researchers and investigators at Kessler International.
They can also be of assistance in helping you to understand, protect,
and manage your personal data.
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