A New York identity-theft ring was recently charged with the largest identity theft scam in U.S. history, spanning almost three years and involving the theft of the credit histories of more than 30,000 victims. The identity-theft ring used the stolen information to charge huge sums to credit card numbers, empty bank accounts, and fraudulently obtain loans — costing consumers more than $2.7 million. Law enforcement authorities are calling this the largest identity theft case in U.S. history

27.3 million Americans have been victims of some form of identity theft within the past five years according to a September, 2003 FTC survey, including almost TEN MILLION people in 2002 alone. According to the survey, last year's identity theft losses to businesses and financial institutions totaled nearly $48 billion and consumer victims reported $5 billion in out-of-pocket expenses.

Identity theft was the number two most reported crime to the federal government in 2003

Internet-related complaints accounted for over half (55 percent) of all fraud reports, up from 45 percent in 2002. Consumer advocates and security experts say identity theft crimes will only become more common and the criminals more daring as electronic transactions become universal.

How identity thieves GET your personal information:

Identity thieves can use a variety of high/low tech means to gain access to your personal information. Here are some of the ways these imposters can get your personal information and take over your identity—

• Business Record Theft: They get your information from businesses or institutions by stealing files out of offices where you're a customer, employee, patient or student; or bribing an employee who has access to your files; or even "hacking" into the organization's computer files.
• Shoulder Surfing: A "shoulder-surfing" identity thief, standing next to you in a checkout line, can memorize your name, address and phone number during the short time it takes you to write a check. An identity thief can stand near a public phone and watch you punch in your phone or credit card numbers (or even listen in when you give your credit-card number over the phone for a hotel room or rental-car.)
• Dumpster Diving: They rummage through your trash, or the trash of businesses, and landfills for personal data.
   
• Under the Color of Authority: They fraudulently obtain credit reports by abusing their employer's authorized access to credit reports, or by posing as landlords, employers or others who may have a legitimate need/right to the information.
   
• Skimming: They steal your credit/debit card account numbers as your card is processed at a restaurant, store or other business location, using a special data collection/storage device (known as "skimmer".)

      And through other forms of
      old-fashioned fraud and theft...

• Stealing wallets and purses containing identification and credit and bank cards.
   
• Stealing mail, including bank and credit card statements, pre-approved credit offers, new checks, or tax information.
   
• Completing a "change of address form" to divert your mail to another location.
   
• Stealing personal information from your home.
• Using personal information you share on the Internet.
   
• Scamming information from you, often through email, by posing as legitimate companies or government agencies.

How can I tell if I'm a victim of identity theft?

• Monitor the balances of your financial accounts. Look for unexplained charges or withdrawals.
• Other indications of identity theft include:
  • failing to receive bills or other mail, which may signal an address change by the identity thief,
  • receiving credit cards, and/or statements of accounts, for which you did not apply
  • a lender tries to repossess a car you didn't know you owned
  • being contacted by the police after a crime is committed in your name.
  • being denied credit for no apparent reason...
     
    If you're ever denied credit, FIND OUT WHY, especially if you haven't reviewed your credit report lately. This may be the first indication you get that someone has stolen your identity and is racking up charges in your name.
  • receiving calls or letters from debt collectors or businesses about merchandise or services you did not buy.
     

REACT QUICKLY if a creditor or merchant calls you about charges you didn't make. This, too, may be the first notice you get that someone has stolen your identity. Get as much information from them as you can and investigate immediately.

Although any of these indications could be a result of a simple error, you should not assume that there's been a mistake and do nothing. Always follow up with the business or institution.

If you think your identity has been stolen, here's what to do:

1.     Contact the fraud department

of any one of the three major credit bureaus  to place a "fraud alert" on your credit file, as well as a victim's statement asking that creditors call you before opening any new accounts or changing your existing accounts. This can help prevent an identity thief from opening additional accounts in your name. As soon as the credit bureau confirms your fraud alert, the other two credit bureaus will be automatically notified to place fraud alerts, and all three credit reports will be sent to you free of charge.
 
Contact the fraud department of any of the three major credit bureaus:

 
Equifax - www.equifax.com
To order your report, call: 800-685-1111 or write:
P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241

To report fraud, call: 800-525-6285 and write:
P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241

(Hearing impaired calls: 1-800-255-0056 and ask the operator to call the Auto Disclosure Line at 1-800-685-1111 to request a copy of your report.)
 

 
Experian - www.experian.com
To order your report, call: 888-EXPERIAN (397-3742) or write:
P.O. Box 2002, Allen TX 75013

To report fraud, call: 888-EXPERIAN (397-3742) and write:
P.O. Box 9530, Allen TX 75013
TDD: 1-800-972-0322

 

 
Trans Union - www.transunion.com
To order your report, call: 800-888-4213 or write:
P.O. Box 1000, Chester, PA 19022

To report fraud, call: 800-680-7289 and write:
Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92634
TDD: 1-877-553-7803
 

Other Steps...

You may also want to contact the following  agencies for certain circumstances:

• Postal Inspection Service: if you suspect that an identity thief has used the mail to commit fraud with your identity. 1-207-871-8546 or 1-207-871-8587

• Social Security Administration: if you suspect that your Social Security Number is being used fraudulently.
  1-800-269-0271

• Internal Revenue Service: if you suspect the improper use of your identity in connection with tax violations.
  1-800-829-0433

• U.S. Secret Service: if you suspect you have been the victim of a fraud ring or if your case involves financial
  fraud with a high dollar amount. 1-207-780-3493