Home: Consumer Protection Alert: Identity Theft & Prevention

Identity Theft -- Read what these consumers have experienced

Someone used my Social Security number to get credit in my name. Identity Theft has caused a lot of problems. I have been turned down for jobs, credit, and refinancing offers. This is stressful and embarrassing. I want to open my own business, but it may be impossible with this unresolved problem hanging over my head.

From a consumer complaint, May 18, 1999

Someone is using my name and Social Security number to open credit card accounts. All the accounts are in collections. I had no idea identity theft has taken place until I applied for a mortgage. Because these "bad" accounts showed up on my credit report, I didn't get the mortgage.

From a consumer complaint, July 13, 1999

Help! Someone is using my Social Security number to get a job. 

From a consumer complaint, September 20, 1999

My elderly parents are victims of Identity Theft - credit fraud. We don't know what to do. Someone applied for credit cards in their name and charged nearly $20,000. Two of the card companies have cleared my parent's name, but the third has turned the account over to a collection agency. The agency doesn't believe Mom and Dad didn't authorize the account. What can we do to stop the debt collector?

From a consumer complaint, October 7, 1999

Identity Theft - Their Opportunities Are Your Everyday Transactions

In the course of a busy day, you may write a check at the grocery store, charge tickets 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 card account in your name.

Minimize Identity Theft Risk

Can you completely prevent identity theft from occurring? Probably not, especially if someone is determined to commit the crime. But you can minimize your risk by managing your personal information wisely, cautiously and with heightened sensitivity.

The Internet, Identity Theft & Prevention

How can someone steal your identity? By co-opting your name, Social Security number, credit card number, or some other piece of your personal information for their own use. In short, identity theft occurs when someone appropriates your personal information without your knowledge to commit fraud or theft.

Here are some ways that identity thieves work:

• They open a new credit card account, using your name, date of birth, and Social Security number. When they use the credit card and don’t pay the bills, the delinquent account is reported on your credit report.

• They call your credit card issuer and, pretending to be you, change the mailing address on your credit card account. Then, your imposter runs up charges on your account. Because your bills are being sent to the new address, you may not immediately realize there's a problem.

• They establish cellular phone service in your name.

• They open a bank account in your name and write bad checks on that account.

Internet Account Updates

If you receive an e-mail request that appears to be from your Internet Service Provider (ISP) stating that your "account information needs to be updated" or that "the credit card you signed up with is invalid or expired and the information needs to be reentered to keep your account active," do not respond without checking with your ISP first. According to information received by the FTC, THIS MAY BE A SCAM.

Identity Theft - Case Study

It’s easy for Identity Thieves to get your personal information and use it to ruin your credit. There are laws to protect you, but what happens when the authorities won’t go after these Identity Thieves? One woman whose name will remain anonymous found out the hard way. She contacted a local television station, shared her frustrations and what the news team shared with her made her even more furious and shocked, and you would be too if you found a letter with your name on it in the mail slot of someone who you think stole your identity.

“I am fired up at this time and very angry. That I feel like I could choke her” said Jane. Jane, a school librarian, mother of three stated: “I am very careful. I don’t throw anything away. I don’t have a computer and use the Internet and I actually burn my mail in a big grill.”

So imagine her surprise when she got a message from Chase stating that someone was using her good name. “They told me that someone had applied for a credit card over the telephone using my name, my social security number, and my address. And, it didn’t end with a credit card. Said Jane. “The woman also got a telephone account and tried to buy a computer. She could have even gotten some others that I don’t even know about because, there are other little cards out there that they just give away.”

Jane managed to locate the woman’s name and address and filed a report with local authorities. Authorities told her there was nothing they could do. Jane decided to take things into her own hands and invited the news team along as she and her family went to confront the Identity Theft. The woman wasn’t home, but Jane did make a disturbing find -- a cellular wireless bill was in the Identity Thefts mailbox with Jane’s name -- yet another account she’ll have to cancel.

The news team has left messages and gone back to the city to try and contact the identity theft with no avail. But, here’s a question to ponder: Why is this television news team the ones helping Jane clear her good name and not the authorities? “We do the best we can.” Said the police. The Police department would not talk about Jane’s case, saying only that it’s an active investigation, and they say, these cases are hard to prove because the credit card companies will not pursue them.  “If the issuing bank or company makes a decision that they would rather write off the loss, then there’s not much more we can do with that because they hold all the necessary data to process the case.” Said Laurick Ingram with Miami-Dade Police.

Identity Theft - Additional Precautions

Sounds discouraging? Yes it is. BUT, there are things that you need to do immediately after you are made aware that your Identity has been stolen: 

1. File a police report. Even though law enforcement say it’s difficult to make a case, your banks, credit car companies and who ever you conduct business with will need this as proof that a crime has taken place.

2. Immediately Contact all three major credit bureaus, so they can put a fraud alert in your file.

3. Contact the creditors or companies for any accounts that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.

4. Call the FTC's Identity Theft Hotline toll-free at 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338).

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