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About ID Theft
Identity Theft is one of the fastest growing white-collar crimes. Now you can put the finger on identity thieves and help protect what you value most…your Identity! |
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What Is Identity Theft?
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Your personal information - name, address, Social Security number, driver's license, birth date, PINs and bank account numbers - make up your unique identity. When someone steals your personal information to fraudulently get credit, open accounts, apply for a mortgage or car loan, etc., the results can wipe out your good name and become a financial nightmare. |
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Identity theft can prevent you from getting loans, jobs, credit cards and more. It can take weeks, months or even years to resolve ... and can cost you hefty legal fees in the process. |
How does Identity Theft happen?
The Federal Trade Commission calls Identity Theft "silent and invisible." Identity thieves do not need direct contact with their victims-they have many subtle ways of obtaining your personal information. They can:
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"Idenity Theft is a crime. Identity theft and identity fraud are terms used to refer to all types of crime in which someone wrongfully obtains and uses another person's personal data in some way that involves fraud or deception, typically for economic gain."
--US Department of Justice.
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Steal your purse or wallet |
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Access your personal information through any secure or unsecured database |
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Take bank statements and other sensitive financial documents from your mailbox |
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Pretend to be your employer, loan officer or landlord to get your credit report |
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Capture your personal identification numbers (PINs) at automated teller machines and phone booths |
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Dig through your trash for credit card receipts or loan applications |
| Once they have your personal information, identity thieves can use it to: |
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Open new credit card accounts using your name, date of birth, and Social Security number |
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Call your credit card issuer, pretend to be you, and change the mailing address on your existing credit card account |
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Either way, it could be months before you know what's going on. By then, there could be a huge amount of debt incurred under your name
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Identity thieves can also:
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Establish cellular phone service, utilities or even new residences in your name |
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Open a bank account and write bad checks in your name |
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Obtain driver's license and other personal identification in your name |
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Buy cars, with the auto loans in your name |
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