Florida Consumer E-Newsletter - March 2007
A Message From the Commissioner...
|
|
|---|---|
Dear Friends: Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personally identifying information, such as your name, social security number, identification cards, or credit card number, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes. If identity theft occurs and the crime is not detected early, people may face months or years cleaning up the damage to their reputation and credit rating and |
|
sometimes they lose out on loans, jobs and other opportunities in the meantime. That’s why it is so important to remain vigilant in the fight against identity theft and fraud. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) estimates that as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. In fact, you or someone you know may have experienced some form of identity theft. Last year the State of Florida ranked fifth in the nation for number of victims of identity theft (17,780). Remember, we're here for you. Our Consumer Hotline, calling within Florida 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352), outside of Florida 850-488-2221 or en Español 1-800-FL-AYUDA (352-9832), will answer any consumer related questions you may have or direct you to the most appropriate resource for assistance. You can also visit us online at www.800helpfla.com for additional consumer information. Remember... consumer education is the best defense against fraud and deception. Sincerely, |
|
In order to keep your identity safe, you must take a proactive approach in securing your information. You cannot merely assume it's not going to happen to you and go on about your life -- it can happen to anyone. It fact most people don’t know their identity’s been compromised until months, even years later. Follow these tips to help protect yourself against thieves that are looking for a new identity:
Keep your personal information guarded. Your social security number is the key that unlocks your personal identity. Don’t give it to anyone unless you’re sure who it is and why it’s crucial to provide it. Ask your health insurance provider and other companies that may use your social security number as your identification number if they can provide you with a substitute number to use instead. Don’t give out personal information on the phone, through the mail, or over the Internet unless you know for sure who you are dealing with.
Beware of imposters. Impersonation is one of the greatest tools used in identity hijacking. Crooks pretending to be from companies you do business with, or even sometimes government agencies, may call or send an email claiming they need to verify your personal information. Be especially suspicious if someone contacts you and asks you to provide information they should already have. Before responding, contact the company directly to confirm if the call or email is from them.
Stay safe online. Don’t send any sensitive information such as credit card numbers or your driver’s license number by email, since it is not a secure method of data transfer. Look for clues about security on websites. At the point where you are asked to provide your financial or other sensitive information, the letters at the beginning of the address bar at the top of the screen should change from “http” to “https” or “shttp.” Your browser may also show that the information is being encrypted, or scrambled, so no one who might intercept it can read it.
Dispose of your trash and mail carefully. To thwart an identity thief who may pick through your trash or recycling bins to capture your personal information, always tear or shred your charge receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance forms, physician statements, checks and bank statements, expired charge cards that you're discarding and credit offers you get in the mail. Send your bill payments from the post office or a public mailbox, not from home.
Review your report. Everyone can request a free copy of their credit reports, once a year from each of the three major credit bureaus. You don’t have to ask all three credit bureaus for your reports at the same time; you can stagger your requests (one every three months) so that you can view your report over the entire year. Do not contact the credit bureaus directly for these free annual reports. They are available by calling 877-322-8228 or going to www.annualcreditreport.com. You can make your requests by phone or online, or download a form to mail your requests. Beware of other companies offering free credit reports. You may be signing up for more than just your report and not even realize it, such as a program to monitor your credit or other additional service that will come with a substantial fee.
For more consumer information, or help finding the right resource for assistance, give us a call today at 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) calling within Florida, 850-488-2221 outside of Florida, 1-800-FL-AYUDA (352-9832) en Español, and a consumer specialist will be happy to assist you.
Additional Resources
|
|---|
Identity Theft, How to Avoid
Did you know that your personal information can be stolen? It's hard to believe, but if you aren't careful with your personal information you may be an easy target for identity theft. Review this brochure to see how you can avoid becoming a victim of identity theft! (En Español)
The links below are for your information only. The goal of the Division of Consumer Services is to provide additional information to consumers. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services does not review or confirm these sites for accuracy.
Federal Trade Commission
This website is a one-stop national resource to learn about the crime of identity theft. It provides detailed information to help you Deter, Detect, and Defend against identity theft. While there are no guarantees about avoiding identity theft, there are steps you can take to minimize your risk and minimize the damage if a problem occurs. Learn more...
National Consumers League
There are a number of steps ID theft victims should take, depending on what kind of information was stolen and how it was used. Learn more...
Unites States Postal Service
Last year alone, more than 9.9 million Americans were
victims of identity theft, a crime that cost them roughly $5 billion. Learn more...
Social Security Administration
Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in America. When a dishonest person has your Social Security number, the thief can use it to get other personal information about you. Learn more...
Florida Office of the Attorney General
Identity theft is the criminal use of an individual's personal identification information. Identity thieves steal information such as your name, social security number, driver's license information, or bank and credit card accounts and use the information to establish credit, make purchases, apply for loans or even seek employment. Learn more...
