NEW
YORK (CNNfn) - Identity theft costs consumers millions of dollars
every year, and a Social Security number is the key to many of the
crimes, experts say.
The
problem is that people often don’t realize they’ve been
victimized until after it’s too late, when their credit is destroyed.
It can take months, even years, to straighten it out. In some cases,
victims can’t wipe away all of the damage.
It’s
invisible when the crime occurs,” said Betsy Broder, director
for planning and information at the Federal Trade Commission.
The
FTC has a Web site that compiles statistics on consumer fraud and
identifies theft, as well as a toll-free hotline at 1-877-IDTHEFT
where people can report crimes. The site logged more than 38,000 complaints
as of March 1, 2001.
The
best way to prevent identity theft is to check your credit reports
every year with the three major credit agencies, Equifax, Experian
and Trans Union, the FTC said.
And
give out your Social Security number only when absolutely necessary.
Don’t carry your card with you. It’s also a good idea
to pick up your mail right away and be sure to destroy old bills and
letters so thieves can’t get access to them, the FTC said. if
you do discover you’ve been victimized, contact the fraud units
of the three credit agencies immediately and follow up with a written
letter, the FTC said. Make sure you document all of your attempts
to clean up your credit.
“There
are times when creditors do not believe (victims) and require them
to prove that it wasn't them who made the expenses, and it’s
very hard to prove a negative,” Broder said. "Still, it
isn’t necessarily a good idea to request a new Social Security
number, since your old credit history may wind up on your new history.
Or, you may wind up unable to get new credit."
FILE
AN FTC COMPLAINT
Identity Theft Clearinghouse
Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20580
877-IDTHEFT
Or file online: www.consumer.gov/idtheft/
You
can get a copy of your Social Security earnings statement by calling
800-772-1212. Make sure your name and earnings are correct.
FILE
A FRAUD COMPLAINT WITH SSA
Social Security Fraud
P.O. Box 17768
Baltimore, MD 21235
Fraud hotline: 800-269-0271
Fax: 410-597-0118
In summary,
if you're a victim:
1) Contact creditors
2) File a police report
3) Call the fraud units of the three credit agencies
4) Call the SSA fraud hotline
5) File a complaint with the FTC
Prevent
ID theft:
Check your credit
records with the three credit agencies
Contact SSA for
an earnings statement at 1-800-772-1213
Guard your mail
Never give out
your Social Security number unless you absolutely have to.
TO
REPORT FRAUD
Equifax: 800-525-6285
Experian: 800-EXPERIAN
Trans Union: 800-680-7289
TO
ORDER CREDIT REPORTS
Equifax: 800-685-1111
Experian: 888-EXPERIAN
Trans Union: 800-916-8800
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