Identity Theft

How can someone steal your identity you may ask? 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 can obtain your information:

• 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, the thief runs up charges on your account. Since your credit card bills are being sent to the new address, you may not even know there is a problem.
• They establish cellular phone service in your name. Run up bills and do not pay them. Show up on your credit report.
• They open a bank account in your name and write bad checks on that account.

If you do find out anyone of the above things are happeneing to you are you suspect identity theft you should do the following : 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.

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