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Florida consumers are reminded they are
eligible to take advantage of free annual credit reports to help
deter identity theft.
It has been three years since the
amendment to the Fair Credit Reporting Act provided Florida
consumers with access to credit reports from each of the three
major credit reporting companies for free once a year. A credit
report contains information about a consumer's credit history,
including a listing of all credit cards and loans.
A recent report from the FBI and National
White Collar Crime Center indicates Florida is home to 10 percent
of Internet fraud perpetrators in the United States, second only to
California. In addition, illegal activity, Medicare fraud,
occupational fraud and money laundering account for about $94
billion of Florida's $714 billion Gross Domestic Product according
to Enterprise Florida.
Agriculture and Consumer Services
Commissioner Charles H. Bronson is concerned that the weak economy
and rising unemployment rate may result in an increase in identity
theft and unauthorized use of consumers' credit cards.
"Reviewing credit history is one of the
most important steps people can take to protect them from identity
theft or to quickly discover and halt any unauthorized activity on
their credit," Bronson said. "Their credit reports may be the first
hint there is a problem when they find credit cards or loans they
never applied for."
Bronson suggests that consumers request
one report every four months from each of the three national credit
bureaus so they can check for errors throughout the year and catch
any identity theft early. Call Experian (800-682-7654), Equifax
(800-685-1111) and Trans Union (800-916-8800) to request the
reports and inform them of any mistakes you find. Consumers also
can visit http://www.AnnualCreditReport.com.
Here are some ways that identity thieves
work:
-- They open a new credit card account,
using someone else's 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 a victim's credit report.
-- They may also call a credit card issuer
and, pretending to be the legitimate cardholder, change the mailing
address on a credit card account. Then con artist runs up charges
on the account. Because statements are being sent to the new
address, consumers may not immediately realize they have been
victimized.
-- They open a bank account in someone
else's name and write bad checks on that account.
-- Phishing. They pretend to be legitimate
financial institutions or companies and send spam or pop-up
messages to get you to reveal your personal information.
-- They may use someone's personal
information to buy items on the Internet.
Consumers cannot prevent identity theft,
but they can reduce their chances of being a victim:
-- Close all stagnant credit card accounts
and destroy the cards; carry as few cards as possible.
-- Mail bills from a post office or mail
drop; identity thieves may steal mail that contains personal
information from a home mailbox.
-- Shred financial documents and paperwork
with personal information before you discard them.
-- Do not respond to solicitations sent by
email that direct you to a site. Many con artists will create web
sites that look exactly like a legitimate site. It is safer to
enter the web site address of a familiar retailer so you are logged
onto the real web site.
-- Do not provide credit card, bank
account or social security information over the phone or by email
unless you have initiated the transaction and are sure you know who
you are dealing with. Legitimate banks and credit card companies do
not call or email customers for this information. For practical
tips to help you be on guard against Internet fraud, secure your
computer, and protect your personal information, visit
http://www.OnGuardOnline.gov.
-- Follow up with creditors if bills do
not arrive on time. A missing credit card bill could mean an
identity thief has taken over your credit card account and changed
your billing address to cover his or her tracks.
-- Place passwords on credit card, bank
and phone accounts. Avoid using easily available information such
as your mother's maiden name, your birth date, or the last four
digits of your social security number.
-- Give your social security number only
when absolutely necessary. Ask to use other types of identifiers
when possible. Do not put your SSN on your checks or carry it in
your purse or wallet.
-- Try to ensure credit card transactions
are conducted in your presence to prevent someone from double
swiping the card.
Consumers who want to report suspicious
activities can call the state's Consumer Hotline at 1-800-HELP
FLA. Callers can learn more about how to protect themselves and
what to do if they are the victims of an identity thief by logging
onto the Federal Trade Commission web site at
http://www.ftc.gov/.
Identity theft can damage a consumer's
credit, and a poor credit history can result in rejection of credit
or higher interest rates on a loan.
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