Three Articles on Identity Theft

Types of Identity Theft (http://computer.howstuffworks.com/identity-theft.htm)

Identity theft can enter into many areas of our lives. It involves any instance where a person uses
someone else's identification documents or other identifiers in order to impersonate that person for
whatever reason. According to a September 2003 survey conducted by the Federal Trade
Commission, an estimated 10 million people in the United States found out they were victims of
identity theft in the previous year. More appropriately titled identity fraud, your identity might be
stolen in order for someone to commit:
Financial fraud - This type of identity theft includes bank fraud, credit card fraud, computer
and telecommunications fraud, social program fraud, tax refund fraud, mail fraud, and
several more. In fact, a total of 25 types of financial identity fraud are investigated by the
United States Secret Service. While financial identity theft is the most prevalent (of the
approximate 10,000 financial crime arrests that Secret Service agents made in 1997, 94
percent involved identity theft), it certainly isn't the only type. Other types of identity theft,
however, usually involve a financial element as well -- typically to fund some sort of criminal
enterprise.
Criminal activities - This type of identity fraud involves taking on someone else's identity in
order to commit a crime, enter a country, get special permits, hide one's own identity, or
commit acts of terrorism. These criminal activities can include:
Computer and cyber crimes
Organized crime
Drug trafficking
Alien smuggling
Money laundering

Are You a Victim of Identity Theft?

(http://www.fightidentitytheft.com/identity_theft_learn.html)

Have you had something like this happen?

You get a phone call or letter telling you that you have been approved or denied
credit for accounts that you never requested.
You no longer receive your credit card statements, or you notice that some of
your mail seems to be missing.
Your credit card statement includes charges for things you know you never
bought.
A collection agency tells you they are collecting for an account you never
opened.

If you notice anything like this, it's possible you've become a victim of identity theft.

But what if nothing is obviously wrong? How can you be sure you're not a victim?

The Federal Trade Commission says that the average victim of identity theft is unaware
of the problem for 12 months. (see the FTC report) You don't want to let 12 months go
by before finding that you're a victim.
 Be Sure You're Not a Victim. Check Your Credit Report.
The Federal Trade Commision says "One of the best ways to catch identity theft is to
regularly check your credit record."

When anyone applies for credit in your name, it will show up in your credit report.
You just need to figure out where to get your credit report and how often to get it.

Free Credit Reports are Now Available for Every Region of the U.S.
As of September 1, 2005, everyone in the U.S. has access to free credit reports
from www.annualcreditreport.com.

INTRODUCTION (http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/idtheft.htm#Introduction)

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, change service providers for your cell phone, or apply for a credit card. Chances are you don't give
these everyday transactions a second thought. But an identity thief does.

Identity theft is a serious crime. People whose identities have been stolen can spend months or years and thousands
of dollars cleaning up the mess the thieves have made of a good name and credit record. In the meantime, victims of
identity theft may lose job opportunities, be refused loans for education, housing, or cars, and even get arrested for
crimes they didn't commit. Humiliation, anger, and frustration are among the feelings victims experience as they
navigate the process of rescuing their identity.

Working with other government agencies and organizations, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has produced this
booklet to help you remedy the effects of an identity theft. It describes what steps to take, your legal rights, how to
handle specific problems you may encounter on the way to clearing your name, and what to watch for in the future.

HOW IDENTITY THEFT OCCURS

I first was notified that someone had used my Social Security number for their taxes in February 2004. I also found
out that this person opened a checking account, cable and utility accounts, and a cell phone account in my name. I'm
still trying to clear up everything and just received my income tax refund after waiting four to five months. Trying to
work and get all this cleared up is very stressful.

From a consumer's complaint to the FTC, July 9, 2004

Despite your best efforts to manage the flow of your personal information or to keep it to yourself, skilled identity
thieves may use a variety of methods to gain access to your data.

How identity thieves get your personal information:

They get information from businesses or other institutions by:

o stealing records or information while they're on the job
o bribing an employee who has access to these records
o hacking these records
o conning information out of employees
They may steal your mail, including bank and credit card statements, credit card offers, new checks, and tax
information.
They may rummage through your trash, the trash of businesses, or public trash dumps in a practice known
as "dumpster diving."
They may get your credit reports by abusing their employer's authorized access to them, or by posing as a
landlord, employer, or someone else who may have a legal right to access your report.
 They may steal your credit or debit card numbers by capturing the information in a data storage device in a
practice known as "skimming." They may swipe your card for an actual purchase, or attach the device to an ATM
machine where you may enter or swipe your card.
They may steal your wallet or purse.
They may complete a "change of address form" to divert your mail to another location.
They may steal personal information they find in your home.
They may steal personal information from you through email or phone by posing as legitimate companies
and claiming that you have a problem with your account. This practice is known as "phishing" online, or pretexting
by phone.

How identity thieves use your personal information:

They may call your credit card issuer to change the billing address on your credit card account. The
imposter then runs up charges on your account. Because your bills are being sent to a different address, it may be
some time before you realize there's a problem.
They may open new credit card accounts in your name. When they use the credit cards and don't pay the
bills, the delinquent accounts are reported on your credit report.
They may establish phone or wireless service in your name.
They may open a bank account in your name and write bad checks on that account.
They may counterfeit checks or credit or debit cards, or authorize electronic transfers in your name, and
drain your bank account.
They may file for bankruptcy under your name to avoid paying debts they've incurred under your name, or to
avoid eviction.
They may buy a car by taking out an auto loan in your name.
They may get identification such as a driver's license issued with their picture, in your name.
They may get a job or file fraudulent tax returns in your name.
They may give your name to the police during an arrest. If they don't show up for their court date, a warrant
for arrest is issued in your name.

If Your Personal Information Has Been Lost or Stolen

If you've lost personal information or identification, or if it has been stolen from you, taking certain steps quickly can
minimize the potential for identity theft.

Financial accounts: Close accounts, like credit cards and bank accounts, immediately. When you open new accounts,
place passwords on them. Avoid using your mother's maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your Social
Security number (SSN) or your phone number, or a series of consecutive numbers.

Social Security number: Call the toll-free fraud number of any of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies
and place an initial fraud alert on your credit reports. An alert can help stop someone from opening new credit
accounts in your name. See consumer reporting company contact information. For more information about fraud
alerts, see the Fraud Alerts box.

Driver's license/other government-issued identification: Contact the agency that issued the license or other
identification document. Follow its procedures to cancel the document and to get a replacement. Ask the agency to
flag your file so that no one else can get a license or any other identification document from them in your name.

Once you've taken these precautions, watch for signs that your information is being misused. See STAYING ALERT.

If your information has been misused, file a report about the theft with the police, and file a complaint with the Federal
Trade Commission, as well. If another crime was committed for example, if your purse or wallet was stolen or your
house or car was broken into report it to the police immediately.

IDENTITY THEFT VICTIMS: IMMEDIATE STEPS

If you are a victim of identity theft, take the following four steps as soon as possible, and keep a record with the
details of your conversations and copies of all correspondence.
1. Place a fraud alert on your credit reports, and review your credit reports.

Fraud alerts can help prevent an identity thief from opening any more accounts in your name. Contact the toll-free
fraud number of any of the three consumer reporting companies below to place a fraud alert on your credit report.
You only need to contact one of the three companies to place an alert. The company you call is required to contact
the other two, which will place an alert on their versions of your report, too.

Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; www.equifax.com; P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374- 0241

Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742); www.experian.com; P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013

TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; www.transunion.com; Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA
92834-6790

Once you place the fraud alert in your file, you're entitled to order free copies of your credit reports, and, if you ask,
only the last four digits of your SSN will appear on your credit reports.Once you get your credit reports, review them
carefully. Look for inquiries from companies you haven't contacted, accounts you didn't open, and debts on your
accounts that you can't explain. Check that information, like your SSN, address(es), name or initials, and employers
are correct. If you find fraudulent or inaccurate information, get it removed. See Correcting Credit Reports to learn
how. Continue to check your credit reports periodically, especially for the first year after you discover the identity theft,
to make sure no new fraudulent activity has occurred.

Fraud Alerts

There are two types of fraud alerts: an initial alert, and an extended alert.

An initial alert stays on your credit report for at least 90 days. You may ask that an initial
fraud alert be placed on your credit report if you suspect you have been, or are about to be, a victim of
identity theft. An initial alert is appropriate if your wallet has been stolen or if you've been taken in by a
"phishing" scam. When you place an initial fraud alert on your credit report, you're entitled to one free
credit report from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies.
An extended alert stays on your credit report for seven years. You can have an extended
alert placed on your credit report if you've been a victim of identity theft and you provide the consumer
reporting company with an "identity theft report." When you place an extended alert on your credit
report, you're entitled to two free credit reports within twelve months from each of the three nationwide
consumer reporting companies. In addition, the consumer reporting companies will remove your name
from marketing lists for pre-screened credit offers for five years unless you ask them to put your name
back on the list before then.

To place either of these alerts on your credit report, or to have them removed, you will be required to
provide appropriate proof of your identity: that may include your SSN, name, address and other personal
information requested by the consumer reporting company.

When a business sees the alert on your credit report, they must verify your identity before issuing you
credit. As part of this verification process, the business may try to contact you directly. This may cause
some delays if you're trying to obtain credit. To compensate for possible delays, you may wish to include a
cell phone number, where you can be reached easily, in your alert. Remember to keep all contact
information in your alert current.

2. Close the accounts that you know, or believe, have been tampered with or opened
fraudulently.

Call and speak with someone in the security or fraud department of each company. Follow up in writing, and include
copies (NOT originals) of supporting documents. It's important to notify credit card companies and banks in writing.
Send your letters by certified mail, return receipt requested, so you can document what the company received and
when. Keep a file of your correspondence and enclosures.
 When you open new accounts, use new Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) and passwords. Avoid using easily
available information like your mother's maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your SSN or your phone
number, or a series of consecutive numbers.

If the identity thief has made charges or debits on your accounts, or on fraudulently opened accounts, ask the
company for the forms to dispute those transactions:

For charges and debits on existing accounts, ask the representative to send you the company's fraud
dispute forms. If the company doesn't have special forms, use the sample letter to dispute the fraudulent charges
or debits. In either case, write to the company at the address given for "billing inquiries," NOT the address for
sending your payments.
For new unauthorized accounts, ask if the company accepts the ID Theft Affidavit. If not, ask the
representative to send you the company's fraud dispute forms. If the company already has reported these accounts
or debts on your credit report, dispute this fraudulent information. See Correcting Credit Reports to learn how.

Once you have resolved your identity theft dispute with the company, ask for a letter stating that the company has
closed the disputed accounts and has discharged the fraudulent debts. This letter is your best proof if errors relating
to this account reappear on your credit report or you are contacted again about the fraudulent debt.

Proving You're a Victim

Applications or other transaction records related to the theft of your identity may help you prove that you
are a victim. For example, you may be able to show that the signature on an application is not yours.
These documents also may contain information about the identity thief that is valuable to law enforcement.
By law, companies must give you a copy of the application or other business transaction records relating
to your identity theft if you submit your request in writing. Be sure to ask the company representative
where you should mail your request. Companies must provide these records at no charge to you within 30
days of receipt of your request and your supporting documents. You also may give permission to any law
enforcement agency to get these records, or ask in your written request that a copy of these records be
sent to a particular law enforcement officer.

The company can ask you for:

proof of your identity. This may be a photocopy of a government-issued ID card, the same type of
information the identity thief used to open or access the account, or the type of information the company
usually requests from applicants or customers, and

a police report and a completed affidavit, which may be the Identity Theft Affidavit or the
company's own affidavit.

3. File a report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft
took place.

Then, get a copy of the police report or at the very least, the number of the report. It can help you deal with creditors
who need proof of the crime. If the police are reluctant to take your report, ask to file a "Miscellaneous Incidents"
report, or try another jurisdiction, like your state police. You also can check with your state Attorney General's office to
find out if state law requires the police to take reports for identity theft. Check the Blue Pages of your telephone
directory for the phone number or check www.naag.org for a list of state Attorneys General.

4. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.

By sharing your identity theft complaint with the FTC, you will provide important information that can help law
enforcement officials across the nation track down identity thieves and stop them. The FTC can refer victims'
complaints to other government agencies and companies for further action, as well as investigate companies for
violations of laws the agency enforces.
You can file a complaint online at www.consumer.gov/idtheft. If you don't have Internet access, call the FTC's Identity
Theft Hotline, toll-free: 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338); TTY: 1-866-653- 4261; or write: Identity Theft Clearinghouse,
Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580.

Be sure to call the Hotline to update your complaint if you have any additional information or problems.

The Identity Theft Report

An identity theft report may have two parts:

Part One is a copy of a report filed with a local, state, or federal law enforcement agency, like your local police
department, your State Attorney General, the FBI, the U.S. Secret Service, the FTC, and the U.S. Postal Inspection
Service. There is no federal law requiring a federal agency to take a report about identity theft; however, some state
laws require local police departments to take reports. When you file a report, provide as much information as you can
about the crime, including anything you know about the dates of the identity theft, the fraudulent accounts opened
and the alleged identity thief.

Note: Knowingly submitting false information could subject you to criminal prosecution for perjury.

Part Two of an identity theft report depends on the policies of the consumer reporting company and the information
provider (the business that sent the information to the consumer reporting company). That is, they may ask you to
provide information or documentation in addition to that included in the law enforcement report which is reasonably
intended to verify your identity theft. They must make their request within 15 days of receiving your law enforcement
report, or, if you already obtained an extended fraud alert on your credit report, the date you submit your request to
the credit reporting company for information blocking. The consumer reporting company and information provider
then have 15 more days to work with you to make sure your identity theft report contains everything they need. They
are entitled to take five days to review any information you give them. For example, if you give them information 11
days after they request it, they do not have to make a final decision until 16 days after they asked you for that
information. If you give them any information after the 15-day deadline, they can reject your identity theft report as
incomplete; you will have to resubmit your identity theft report with the correct information.

You may find that most federal and state agencies, and some local police departments, offer only "automated" reports
a report that does not require a face-to-face meeting with a law enforcement officer. Automated reports may be
submitted online, or by telephone or mail. If you have a choice, do not use an automated report. The reason? It's
more difficult for the consumer reporting company or information provider to verify the information. Unless you are
asking a consumer reporting company to place an extended fraud alert on your credit report, you probably will have
to provide additional information or documentation when you use an automated report.

Tips For Organizing Your Case

Accurate and complete records will help you to resolve your identity theft case more quickly.

Have a plan when you contact a company. Don't assume that the person you talk to will give you
all the information or help you need. Prepare a list of questions to ask the representative, as well as
information about your identity theft. Don't end the call until you're sure you understand everything
you've been told. If you need more help, ask to speak to a supervisor.
Write down the name of everyone you talk to, what he or she tells you, and the date the
conversation occurred. Use Chart Your Course of Action to help you.
Follow up in writing with all contacts you've made on the phone or in person. Use certified mail,
return receipt requested, so you can document what the company or organization received and when.
Keep copies of all correspondence or forms you send.
Keep the originals of supporting documents, like police reports and letters to and from creditors;
send copies only.
Set up a filing system for easy access to your paperwork.

Keep old files even if you believe your case is closed. Once resolved, most cases stay resolved,
but problems can crop up.