WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF IDENTITY THEFT

In the course of a busy day,you to a ball game, rent a car, mail your tax returns, call home on your cell phone, order new checks or apply for a credit card.
Chances are you don’t give these everyday transactions a second thought. But someone else may. The 1990’s spawned a new variety of crooks called identity thieves. Their stock in trade are your everyday transactions.

Each transaction requires you to share personal information: your bank and credit card account numbers; your income; your Social Security number (SSN); and your name, address and phone numbers. An identity thief co-opts some piece of your personal information and appropriates it without your knowledge to commit fraud or theft. An all too-common example is when an identity thief uses your personal information to open a credit cardaccount in your name.
Can you completely prevent identity theft from occurring? Probably not, especially ifsomeone is determined to commit the crime. But you can minimize your risk with our tips and by managing your personal information wisely, cautiously and with heightened sensitivity.The Congress of the United States asked the Federal Trade Commission to provide information to consumers about identitytheft and to take complaints from those whose identities have beenstolen. If you’ve been a victim ofidentity theft, The FTC puts your information into a secure consumer fraud database and may,in appropriate instances, share itwith other law enforcement agencies.

The FTC, working in con junction with other government agencies, has produced this booklet to help you guard against and recover from identity theft.

Despite your best efforts or to keep it to yourself, skilled identity thieves may use a variety of methods - low- and hi-tech - to gain access to your data. Here are some of the ways imposters can get your personal information and take over your identity.

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