Identity Theft: When Fact Becomes Fiction
Your everyday transactions usually reveal bits of your personal information: your bank and credit card account numbers; your income; your Social Security number (SSN); or your name, address, and phone numbers.
An identity thief obtains some piece of your sensitive information and uses it without your knowledge to commit fraud or theft. Identity theft is a serious crime.
People whose identities have been stolen can spend months or years — and their hard-earned money — cleaning up the mess the thieves have made of their good name and credit record. Some victims have lost job opportunities, been refused loans for education, housing or cars, or even been arrested for crimes they didn’t commit.
Whether you’re an adult, student, parent, teacher, or consumer advocate, we encourage you to use the resources on this site and do what you can to minimize your risk of identity theft.
Identity Theft at the Workplace
Safe information handling practices are the key to keeping identifying information out of the hands of thieves. These are some of the questions that must be asked.
Workplace Identity Theft
Frequently asked questions regarding company policies that may put you at risk for identity theft and suggestions on what to do prevent it from happening.
Your Wallet: Too Much Information?
The repercussions of losing your wallet can be a disaster for you – but a field day for an identity thief. Avoid being a victim by following these simple preventive steps.
What Is Identity Theft?
For those who have been victims of identity theft, there is nothing at all humorous about the experience.
ID Theft: Get Copies of Your Credit Reports
If you have been a victim of identity theft, the first thing you need to do is obtain a copy of your credit report from the three major credit bureaus.
If Your Identity Has Been Stolen
You can spend years and a lot of money to clean up the mess from having your identity stolen. Here are the first steps that you need to take, according to the Federal Trade Commission.
New Law Stiffens Penalties for Identity Theft
The Identity Theft Penalty Enhancement Act which increases existing penalties for the crime of identity theft, establishes aggravated identity theft as a criminal offense, and establishes mandatory penalties for aggravated identity theft.
Prevent Identity Theft From Happening to You
Identity theft or identity fraud, the fastest growing crime in the United States, is the taking of a victim's identity for financial gain or to conceal the real identity of the perpetrator.
Source: Consumer.gov
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