Resources to Help You Learn About and Protect Yourself from Identity Theft

There is a new bill that is being passes, it is a very weak bill but if passed, it will prohibit using a social security number for identification purposes. This bill should take affect in 2006.

If you feel you have been a victim of identity fraud, contact the Department of Justice, consumer protection division. They offer mediation with identity theft; they also have a hot line for consumers that is available 8-5 Monday - Friday. They maintain a database of written complaints that goes back to 1998. They offer seminars to school, seniors or your group.

Be aware that 40 million crooks obtained credit card numbers this past year, "Be Suspicious". Also be aware that most identify theft is not reported, especially when it involves family members, so the statistics are off. These statistics show that consumers lost $5 billion last year when in actuality it is closer to $50 billion. There have been an estimated 9.9 million victims in America.

U.S. Postal Inspection Service
www.usps.com/postalinspectors

Federal Trade Commission
www.consumer.gov.idtheft
877-IDTHEFT or TTY - 202-326-2502

U.S. Secret Service
www.secretservice.gov

Department of Justice
www.usdoj.gov/criminal/fraud/idtheft

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
www.fdic.gov/consumers

Equifax
www.exuifax.com
800-525-6285

Experian
www.experian.com
888-397-3742

Trans union
www.transunion.com
800-680-7289

Social Security Administration Fraud Hotline
PO Box 17768
Baltimore, MD 21235
800-269-0271
www.socialsecurity.gov

North American Securities Agency Administrators (NASAA)
www.nasaa.org

Better Business Bureau
www.search.bbb.org/search.html

United States Postal Service
www.usps.com

National Do Not Call Registry
www.donotcall.gov
888-382-1222

Direct marketing Association Consumer Assistance
http://www.dmaconsumers.org/consumerassistance.html Registering by mail is FREE and registering online is $5.00. To remove your name from national mailing lists by mail:

Mail Preference Service
Direct Marketing Association
PO Box 643
Carmel, NY 10512

Identity Theft Resource Center
www.idtheftcenter.org
858-693-7935

International check service
800-526-5380

Telecheck
800-927-0755

Certegy Check Services
800-437-5120

Internet Fraud Complaint Center
http://www.ifccfbi.gov/index.asp

Fight Identity Theft
http://www.fightidentitytheft.com/

By Michelle Dunn