IdentityTheft Topics

Idtheft refers to the situation where someone else uses your personal information in a fraudulent and/or unauthorized manner, normally for financial advantage. Among other things, your personal information may be your name, and/or social security number, and/or your credit card number.

Idtheft may be as simple as using your credit card number for unauthorized use, in which case you call your credit card company and close/change your account number. ID theft may also be more invasive as in situations where the id thief takes over your accounts, changes account addresses, obtains new credit accounts and loans, incurs medical procedures and expenses, and may even pose as you for employment.

How do you help prevent theft of your identity? What do you do if you are a victim of identity fraud? Here is some guidance that you may find useful, including a consumer identity theft help kit.

What is Identity Theft? - Identity theft is when your confidential personal information is used by others without your permission in a fraudulent way, oftentimes to open credit cards and credit accounts in your name.
How does ID Theft happen? - How does identity theft happen? It happens when identity thieves steal your most personal information and use it to their own gain. It can be by stealing your mail, your credit card number and information, or by getting your personal information off the Internet through hacking, or by finding and misusing information in your wallet or purse....
How do I prevent Identity Theft - There are some relatively easy steps for preventing identity theft. This section gives you important tips on being aware on how to guard your personal information so that it stays with you and only you.
What to do - Help for Identity Theft Victims - Offers information, links, dispute form links, and a link to the identity theft affidavit. The kit is a one stop page for most of the information you need to recognize and minimize your exposure to identity theft.
Medical Identity Theft - Medical identity theft occurs when id thieves steall your personal information and use it to obtain medical services and procedures that may result in your receiving medical bills and possibly medical collections you did not incur or authorize.
Identity Theft of the Deceased - Deceased persons are vulnerable to the identity thief who watches the obituaries, sees a person has died, and attempts to apply for credit in the name of the deceased.
What to do when your personal information has been hacked on the Internet - Be careful of websites collecting sensitive information. It may be difficult to believe, but unscrupulous people create websites designed to steal your personal information. Be careful! We provide information you can use to determine whether a site is safe or unsafe.
How to put a Fraud Alert on Your Credit Report Guide to putting initial fraud alerts and extended fraud alerts on your credit files.
How to put a Security/Credit Freeze on your Credit Report - In general, security freezes, also called credit freezes, allow consumers to notify the credit reporting agencies to block access to their credit report from potential creditors and insurance companies. Helpful information includes FAQ's and how to put a credit freeze or security freeze on your credit reports.