Most Secure Lockable Mailbox Prevent Identity Theft in Mail and at the Post Office Do not sign up for unfamiliar contests or sweepstakes. Information you provide could be sold and reproduced hundreds of times. Install a lockable mailbox at your home so thieves cannot easily take your mail. Remove your name from commercial marketing databases by writing to Direct Marketing Association's Mail Preference Service (P.O. Box 9008, Farmingdale, NY 11735) and Telephone Preference Service (P.O. Box 9015, Farmingdale, NY 11735). If your mail suddenly stops, check with the Post Office. Someone may have filed a change of address form. Stop credit bureaus from selling your name (header information). Call the toll-free telephone number used by all three credit bureaus and take advantage of their "opt-out" service. One number, (888) 5OPTOUT, or (888) 567-8688, reaches all three bureaus. Write to National Demographics and Lifestyles and ask to be deleted from its mailing list: National Demographics & Lifestyles, List Order Department, 1621 18th Street, Suite 300, Denver, CO 80202. (800) 525-3533. Problems You Can Encounter My wallet was stolen in December 1998. There’s been no end to the problems I’ve faced since then. The thieves used my identity to write checks, use a debit card, open a bank account with a line of credit, open credit accounts with several stores, obtain cell phones and run up huge bills, print fraudulent checks on a personal computer bearing my name, and more. I’ve spent the last two years trying to repair my credit report (a very frustrating process) and have suffered the ill effects of having a marred credit history. I’ve recently been denied a student loan because of inaccurate information on my credit report. From a consumer complaint to the FTC, February 22, 2001 I’m tired of the hours I’ve spent on the phone and all the faxing I’ve had to do. When will it be over? From a consumer complaint to the FTC, March 13, 2001 Tomorrow is Sunday so we won’t get any notices, but I’m not looking forward to Monday’s mail. From a consumer complaint to the FTC, November 13, 2001 How can someone commit identity theft? The Federal Trade Commission explains how identity theft is committed: By co-opting your name, Social Security number, credit card number, or some other piece of your personal information for their own use. In short, identity theft occurs when someone appropriates your personal information without your knowledge to commit fraud or theft. Once identity theft is committed, then what? Once identity thieves fake your identity, they: Open a new credit card account, using your 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 your credit report. Call your credit card issuer and, pretending to be you, change the mailing address on your credit card account. Then, your impostor runs up charges on your account. Because your bills are being sent to the new address, you may not immediately realize there's a problem. Establish cellular phone service in your name. Open a bank account in your name and write bad checks on that account. More information is available here about: How to commit identity theft How to prevent identity theft Help for victims of identity theft Back to the main page of Identity Theft Loan Broker Identity Theft Identity Theft Fraud Report Agency Clearinghouse For Identity Theft Victims Mastercard Identity Theft Stealing Mail Article Submissions On Debt And Identity Theft Credit Card Fraud Tricks For Criminals Credit Card Fraud Tricks For Criminals Identity Theft How It's Done Destroying Social Insurance Number Card Copyright © 2004-2011 Robert Sherman