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Born Identity
Friday, August 5, 2005
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As the song goes,
"Who are you, Who, Who,Who
are You?"
Growing up, listening to that song
always made me stop and think, "who am I, really?" I have a name, address and
phone number, that's for sure; but all of the rest, well, that leaves room for
interpretation.
Wife, mother, daughter, friend,
producer, writer, publisher, golfer, swimmer, runner, ice cream lover, movie popcorn fanatic and,
well, you get the idea.
The problem isn't really knowing who
I am, it's protecting
who I am; and who YOU
are.
Identity theft.
It's unfortunately one of the scariest
and most frustrating things that can happen to a person, aside from ridding your children,
yourself and your home of lice--we'll
discuss that another time!
According to the Privacy Rights
Clearinghouse, "Identity theft claims a half-million victims annually and costs financial
institutions more than $5 billion."
How does it happen?
Typically, someone gets hold of a credit card in your name and
then makes purchases—or worse, takes out loans or mortgages, accruing tax bills—under
your identity.
As funny as they are, those Citibank commercials on
television really make you think. We see an unshaven man sitting in front of the
television set talking in a "Valley Girl" kind of slang (a voice that is obviously
not his) he tells us about the "killer dress and shoes" he just bought...and it
doesn't matter how much it costs because he's not paying for it!
They can get the necessary
information by simply digging pre-approved credit solicitations out
of your trash, then getting the card in your name at a new address.
(I know plenty of people this has happened to!)
Protect yourself by:
- Tearing up or shredding
all pre-approved solicitations.
- Pay attention to your credit
card billing cycles. If a credit card bill is a few days late, call the issuer and ask if there
have been any inquiries or changes to your account.
- Carry only the credit card
information you need while out-- not all of your credit cards and
not your Social Security card.
- Keep tabs on your Social
Security number—don't put it on your checks or give it out any more than is absolutely
necessary.
Avoid the name game, play it smart, protect your good name,
credit and bank account...
Checklist if you are a victim of Identity Theft:
- Contact the FTC at 877-438-4338
- Contact the Postal Inspection Service
- Contact the Social Security
Administration 800-269-0271
- Contact the IRS 800-829-0433
- Contact Credit Reporting
Agencies,
Equifax 888-397-3742
or
Trans Union 800-680-7289
- Contact all of your personal creditors and
investment sources--make a master list today and store it somewhere safe!
- FIND out more at www.idtheftcenter.org
All the Best,
Beth Aldrich
Help us grow!! Pass us on to a
friend.
We welcome your story or ideas for
a future FHI Connection!
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