More Info/Tips
What would you do if a stranger stole the one thing you have taken painstaking measures to build your entire life? Your credit.
In the new milennium thieves are stealing enough personal information to destroy your good name.
But there are ways to protect yourself.
News Specialist Stacey Butler has been investigating this crime and has a special report.
How often do credit card applications arrive in your mailbox? Once, twice a week?
This one says "send for your card now."
All you have to do is put the yellow sticker on the application and the card is on the way.
But there's one problem. This just came to my address in someone else's name. I haven't seen this name in the two years I've lived there.
This is exactly the kind of thing that thieves wait for.
Once your identity has been stolen, it takes you an average of 175 hours to clear your name.
It takes a criminal minutes to steal it.
Consider the ways....
Thieves can steal credit applications from your mailbox and from outgoing mail.
From the internet.
They can pick through trash bins for old receipts
with your credit card number on it, and get your social security number off of discarded paycheck stubs.
Police say unscrupulous store clerks can steal your social security number when they ask for a driver's license. It is, after all, printed for all to see.
Francine Gianni/Consumer Protection: "UNFORTUNATELY OUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER IS ONE PIECE OF INFORMATION THAT IDENTIFIES US. AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE PRETTY CAREFREE ABOUT IT."
It's become such a problem, that two new laws were enacted this year giving the division of Consumer Protection more resources to investigate such crimes, and the power to charge identity thieves with a felony.
Even the federal government is taking notice of the growing problem.
Last month the Treasury Department was ordered to stop printing social security numbers on checks and other documents sent through the mail.
Last year 750,000 people fell prey to identity theft.
And the number is growing.
"IDENTITY THEFT WILL BE THE CRIME OF THE NEXT CENTURY."
The Salt Lake County sheriff's department receives phone calls from victims daily.
Sgt. Rob Russo/Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office: "IT'S ONE OF THE GREATEST CRIMES THROUGHOUT THE SALT LAKE VALLEY. "WHY?" BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY INNOCENT VICTIMS AND IT'S ONE OF THE HARDEST CRIMES TO TRACK."
Ultimately YOU are the only one who can protect your good name.
"IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR US TO CALL PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T KNOW THEY WERE VICTIMS, BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T CHECK THEIR ACCOUNT VERY CAREFULLY."
Here's where you start .. you may want to get a pen and paper and write this down.
Start with contacting the three credit reporting agencies: They are called, EQUIFAX, TRANS UNION, AND EXPERION -- Click here for a link, or they're all listed in the Yellow Pages under Credit Reporting Agencies -- or under directory assistance.
Ask for a copy of your credit report. There is usually an $8 fee.
You can do this three times a year without it impacting your credit rating.
If you're checking that often, chances are no one is going to be able to build credit in your name WITHOUT you knowing it.
Also, you can have pre-approved credit cards that collect in your mailbox canceled for two years.
Just call this number 1-888-5-OPTOUT.
If you do business over the internet, it's more important than ever that you are using a secured web site.
And, if you use your drivers license for identification, use tape to black out your social security number.
There is a federal bill in the works---the identity fraud prevention act. Basically, it makes it harder for thieves to get credit in your name.
It would require credit issuers to confirm a change of address with consumers before they just hand out credit. That bill will be reintroduced to Congress in January.
More Info
Tips For Prevention/Link To More Info
Did You Know/How Thieves Steal Your ID/If You're A Victim
