An October 19, 2008 article in the Los Angeles Times reports a rise in phishing (Internet scams that get people to hand over personal information that could be used for identity theft) linked to the current U.S. economic turmoil. Scammers are taking advantage of the recent bank mergers and collapses to get consumers to give out personal information through emails they incorrectly think are coming from their banks. This increase in phishing, coupled with a study by the NFCC that shows 8.4 million Americans were victims of identity theft in 2007, makes the National Protect Your Identity Week a timely and important event for the country.
National Protect Your Identity Week
The purpose of the campaign is "to bring identity theft awareness and prevention programs to consumers in communities across the country." From October 19 to 25, 2008, free workshops and seminars on credit and identity theft along with shredding events will be available in more than 100 locations in the U.S. The NFCC has also launched a new website that features an "Are You a Target for ID Theft?" quiz, consumer tips and advice for victims of ID theft. MSN Money is the national media sponsor for the event and is sponsoring a message board on their website that allows consumers to ask NFCC Certified Credit Counselors questions on ID theft protection and other financial issues. Money Management International, the nation's largest non-profit credit and debt counseling education agency, will host a free webinar entitled “Avoid Identity Theft: Deter, Detect, Defend” on October 22 at 8 p.m. EST.
Methods of ID Theft
The Federal Trade Commission defines identity theft as “when someone uses your personally identifying information, like your name, Social Security number or credit card information without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes.” The FTC website lists the top six ways that identity theft occurs:
- Personal information is obtained from bills and other papers in the trash.
- Credit/debit card numbers are stolen by special storage devices on ATM machines.
- Scammers pretend to be legitimate organizations and get consumers to reveal personal information over the Internet.
- Thieves complete a change of address form to divert your mail to another location.
- Personal information and documents are stolen from wallets, purses, mail, new checks, personnel records etc. The Identity Theft Resource Center reports receiving more calls about lost and stolen wallets between November and January than any other time of the year.
- Thieves obtain personal information from financial institutions, telephone companies and other sources.
Protecting Against ID Theft
Consumers can protect themselves from identity theft. Care One Credit Counseling Services, a debt relief service provider, offers these tips:
- Shred all personal documents, like bills, bank statements and junk mail, when they are no longer needed.
- Never give out Social Security numbers over the phone or Internet. Don't carry a social security card in a purse or wallet and don't print social security numbers on checks.
- Keep copies of credit cards and account records in a safe place so that if your wallet is ever stolen all the information to report the lost is available.
- Check credit reports at least once a year to make sure all information is accurate.
- Only use secure and trusted sites for online shopping. Don't save your credit card information on any websites. If the company's site is hacked all data information will be vulnerable.
National Protect Your Identity Week offers consumers knowledge about how to protect themselves from one of the country's fastest growing crimes.
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