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Identity
Theft
Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in America. If someone steals your social security number, they can use it to get other personal information about you. They use your social security number and your name to sign up for credit cards. You don't even know there is a problem until you apply for a loan and are turned down for credit.
Keep your number confidential.
Identity thieves get your personal information by:
Stealing wallets, purses and your mail.
Stealing personal information you provide to an unsecured site on the internet.
Sorting through trash for personal data.
Posing as someone who legitimately needs information about you, such as employer or landlords.
Buying personal information from "inside" sources. An identity thief may pay a store employee for information about you that appears on an application for credit.
To report someone that is using your social security number, contact the Federal Trade Commission - http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/
You can not fix your credit by contacting Social Security. To fix your credit report, call the creditors who approved the credit. File a police report. Contact the fraud department of the major credit bureaus.
You can request a free copy of your credit report from - www.annualcreditreport.com
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