| CNRSW FFSC gives support for identity theft victims
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) estimates that as many as nine million Americans have their identities stolen each year. Some identity theft victims repair their problems quickly, while others may take years and hundreds of dollars to repair their good name and credit record.
The CNRSW Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) offers an identity theft brief year-round to help service members and their families combat id theft. "Families must be constantly vigilant," said Deborah Johnston, FFSC, financial educator.
There are several ways to prevent id theft. Don't give out personal information over the phone, through the mail or over the internet unless you are sure who you are dealing with. Johnston feels that giving out personal information freely is where a lot of people get in trouble.
HOW TO DO IT
Here's how to submit a security freeze request to each of the three national credit bureaus. There's no charge for identity theft victims, but you must submit a police report. Experian and Equifax require you to submit your request by certified mail; TransUnion does not. .
Safe Communities by Design conference Nov. 28-30
After watching his best friend bleed to death in his arms, former California gang member Jeremy Estrada turned his life around. Now, in his third-year in medical school at Georgetown University, Estrada will share his compelling story during the Safe Communities by Design conference, sponsored by the N.C. Governor�s Crime Commission, Nov.28-30 at the Sea Trail Conference Center, Sunset Beach. Nearly 450 professionals and officials from the criminal justice community, juvenile and victims� services, the private sector, and federal, state and local agencies will attend the conference. Other speakers include first lady Mary Easley, Director Domingo Herriaz of the U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance and Texas Rep. Ted Poe, head of the Congressional Victim�s Caucus. The Governor�s Crime Commission�s three-day conference will host workshops on current trends, strategies, and effective practices concerning topics such as gangs, drugs, identity theft, elder crime, and campus and community security.
Critics question latest government report on identity theft
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Federal Trade Commission says a new analysis concludes 8.3 million Americans over 18 were victims of identity theft in 2005. That's down from 9.9 million in 2003. But consumer advocates are not convinced the numbers are accurate. One problem in getting accurate information about identity theft is that most consumers don't know it when their personal information is compromised. And the FTC acknowledges that its identity-theft survey involved such a small sample that the results are not "statistically significant." Still, there's agreement that ID theft is a monumental problem. One research firm says it cost American businesses $55 billion in 2006. And the FTC estimates the cost to consumers last year came to $1.2 billion. Copyright 2007 The Associated Press.
Critics pounce on FTC report that ID theft is down
A government survey questions the conventional wisdom that identity theft is a growing problem in the U.S.But don’t toss out your shredder just yet. Consumer advocates are not convinced the Federal Trade Commission numbers are accurate, though they do agree on a key point highlighted in a footnote of the agency’s report: the difficulty in coming up with a reliable assessment of the problem.An estimated 8.3 million Americans over the age of 18 were victims of identity theft in 2005, according to an analysis of a phone survey released by the FTC. That represented a decline of about 16 percent from an estimated 9.9 million victims in 2003, when the agency last conducted its survey. .
Consumers warned about holiday ID theft
Attorney General Bill McCollum today advised Floridians to be careful when using credit and debit cards to pay for gifts during this holiday shopping season in order to avoid becoming victims of identity theft. He also cautioned consumers about a "phishing" scam that has surfaced recently, threatening to expose consumers� personal financial information. McCollum noted that occurrences of identity theft often increase during the holiday season and encouraged residents and guests to be extra vigilant to protect themselves. "Identity theft can be devastating any time it occurs, but it is especially destructive during the holiday season when it could threaten personal financial information, travel plans and other seasonal aspects of our consumers� personal lives," said McCollum.
ID Theft Hit 8 Million Americans in 2005 Federal Trade Commission
Dec 04 2007 : Identity theft affected 8.3 million adults, or 3.7 percent of the adult U.S population, in 2005, according to a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) study. The report is based on 4,917 telephone interviews with a random sample of American adults. For the study, the FTC categorized ID theft victims according to specific Federal U.S. laws. It estimated that 3.3 million American adults, or 1.5 percent of the adult population, experienced the misuse of one or more of their existing non-credit card accounts in 2005. This fraud category included checking, saving or telephone accounts. Based on the study, the FTC also estimated that in 2005 there were 3.2 million fraud victims in the category of �existing credit cards.� In addition, there were 1.8 million victims in the category of �new accounts and other fraud,� where fraudsters opened new accounts in the victims� names, or committed other frauds using their ID.
EMBARQ Warns Customers: Don't Get Hooked by Phishing Scam
OVERLAND PARK, Kan., Nov. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- EMBARQ (NYSE: EQ) is warning customers not to fall prey to a scam that could result in identity theft or loss of financial assets. The scam is called "phishing," and most often comes in the form of an email or phone call from a legitimate-looking/sounding source seeking personal information. "The victim receives an email or phone call that appears to have come from a legitimate company asking them to provide information such as bank account numbers, credit card numbers, account passwords, social security number, and date of birth so they can allegedly update their records," said Dallas Hayden, manager of Investigations and Law Enforcement Support at EMBARQ. "In reality, the message is from a scammer who is trying to steal the victim's identity," said Hayden.
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