Protect your identity.Don't let anyone use your personal information to commit fraud You've been receiving bills for items that you don't remember charging. Then you find that your request for an auto loan has been denied when you know your credit history is squeaky clean squeaky clean Adjective 1. (of hair) washed so clean that wet strands squeak when rubbed 2. completely clean 3. Informal, derogatory (of a person) cultivating a virtuous and wholesome image . To make matters worse, the police bring you down to the station to question you about a crime that you didn't commit. Has the whole world gone mad? Probably not. These are signs that someone else may be using your personal information to commit fraud. "According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the General Accounting Office (GAO), there is a large increase in identity theft," notes Jodi Beebe, hot line coordinator of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse Privacy Rights Clearinghouse (PRC) is a project of the Utility Consumers' Action Network (UCAN), an American 501(c)(3) non-profit consumer advocacy organization. The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse is devoted to upholding the right to privacy and protecting consumers against identity (619-298-3396). She says the misuse of individuals' Social Security numbers is largely responsible for the trend. Nowadays, Social Security numbers are used as an identifier by educational institutions, the military, health insurance providers and even video stores. "Anyone who has a Social Security number can begin establishing credit with that person's identity," Beebe warns. One of the best ways to thwart such efforts is to safeguard your Social Security number, advises Mari Frank, attorney and identity theft expert. "Don't give your Social Security number out to anyone that doesn't have a right to it," she insists. Only your employer, accountant, bank or loan institution really needs this information. To protect your Social Security number, you may have to take your business elsewhere. "A Blockbuster or Little League team has no right to ask you for your Social Security number," she adds. Also get credit reports from the three credit reporting agencies at least twice a year. "Look at [the reports] carefully to make sure they are accurate," Frank says. "They may contain two Social Security numbers or list a company making an inquiry without your permission." Other safety measures safety measures, n.pl actions (e.g., use of glasses, face masks) taken to protect patients and office personnel from such known hazards as particles and aerosols from high-speed rotary instruments, mercury vapor, radiation exposure, anesthetic and include shredding shred n. 1. A long irregular strip that is cut or torn off. 2. A small amount; a particle: not a shred of evidence. tr.v. your utility, bank and credit card statements; requesting companies use a number other than your Social Security number as an identifier and avoiding the use of your mother's maiden name maiden name n. A woman's family name before she is married. Used of a surname that is replaced by a woman when she marries. Also called birth name. or your birth date as a password or secret code. But just in case you still become a victim of identity theft, here's how you should handle it: * Call the fraud line of all credit reporting agencies. Put a fraud alert on your credit report to prevent the issuance of credit without first getting your approval. You can do this even if you don't Even If You Don't is a single released by the band Ween in 2000 on Mushroom Records. Formats Enhanced CD single Includes the quicktime video of "Even If You Don't" directed by Matt Stone & Trey Parker of "South Park". suspect identity theft. You must also request copies of your credit reports. Victims of identity theft are entitled to free copies. * Make a report to the fraud unit of the police department in your city. If your state doesn't have an identity theft statute or law, fill out a police report so that you can send a copy of it to the credit reporting agencies. * Enlist en·list v. en·list·ed, en·list·ing, en·lists v.tr. 1. To engage (persons or a person) for service in the armed forces. 2. To engage the support or cooperation of. v. the U.S. Secret Service. Typically, the Secret Service only investigates cases involving a substantial dollar loss or those that seem to indicate a larger pattern. However, It may be able to assist you if the imposter is in another state. * Alert the injured in·jure tr.v. in·jured, in·jur·ing, in·jures 1. To cause physical harm to; hurt. 2. To cause damage to; impair. 3. companies. For starters, contact the IRS An abbreviation for the Internal Revenue Service, a federal agency charged with the responsibility of administering and enforcing internal revenue laws. , the Social Security Administration, your local Passport Office passport office passport n → bureau m de délivrance des passeports passport office passport n → Passamt nt passport office and your insurance carriers. You'll also need to put fraud alerts on all credit cards: the ones you obtained yourself as well as the ones secured by the imposter. For the letters you'll need to write to repair your credit--and Frank says you may have to write to over 100 agencies--get the Identity Theft Survival Kit (www.identitytheft. org). * File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (877-IDTHEFT or www.consumer.gov/idtheft). Although the organization doesn't intervene in individual disputes, it provides advice, makes referrals to the appropriate authorities and maintains a database to help law enforcement recognize organized identity theft rings. Credit Reporting Agencies
To report To obtain your
Company fraud credit report
Equifax 800-522-6285 800-685-1111
(www.equifax.com)
Experian 888-EXPERIAN 888-EXPERIAN
(www.experian.com) (397-3742)
Trans Union 800-680-7289 800-916-8800
(www.tuc.com)
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