Worried About Identity Theft?

Identity theft is the number one fastest growing crime in America and Arizona is number one in the nation for the fourth year in a row for Identity Theft. In 2006 there were 327 reported breaches, there were 100.3 million identities compromised yet the number of thieves sentenced was only FIVE. To date there are close to 200 million identities that have been stolen. It is expected to be 20 times worse in the next two years.
There are five types of Identity Theft.
1. Drivers License
2. Social Security
3. Medical
4. Character or Criminal
5. Financial
We tend to focus on the fifth type however they are all a concern.
What can we do? It boils down to Deter, Detect and Defend.
Keep all sensitive information in locking file cabinets. Shred any information you no longer need. Be careful about what you put in your out going mail box. And never give out your social security number unless it is absolutely necessary. Most companies (like your bank and credit card companies) can identify you in other ways such as a series of questions. Early detection of potential identity theft can make a big difference. Keep an eye out for suspicious activity by regularly monitoring your financial statements and credit reports. If you should become a victim of identity theft the following steps will help.
Place a fraud alert on your credit reports and review your credit reports.
Close the accounts that you know or believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.
File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.
File a report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place.
In some cases if you fail to follow these steps and report it quickly enough you may be held responsible.

The above information comes from a class I just took on Identity Theft and an article put out by First American Title from the Federal Trade Commission.

Be sure to visit the Federal Trade Commission’s website on Identity Theft to learn more. They will provide information to help you deter, detect and defend yourself against Identity Theft.
www.ftc.gov/idtheft

Be careful and protect yourself.

Renée