Identity theft: how to protect yourself

  • Published
  • By Capt. Andy Akridge
  • 347th Rescue Wing Legal Office
Once upon a time, crooks were easier to identify. They were shady characters who waited in dark alleys to jump out and snatch whatever valuables you might have.

With rapid advances in information technology, a new type of crook has emerged: the identity thief.

The identity thief doesn't have to wait in an alley to rip you off. You may never even know he exists. But he knows that you exist. Indeed, he wants to become you.

An identity thief preys upon your everyday transactions. He may sort through your trash to find discarded credit statements. He may steal mail from your mailbox. If you buy over the Internet, he may hack into a Web site and access your credit card numbers.

Some enterprising and thieving waiters even carry pocket-sized devices that can record credit card numbers; they simply swipe your card through their device on the way to the cash register.

A more recent scam has involved identity thieves sending victims phony Internal Revenue Service and bank forms to obtain personal information. It appears military members are especially likely to be targeted. Once this information is obtained, your accounts may be left wide open to the identity thieves.

Like most crimes, identity theft is impossible to completely prevent. But you can reduce your chances of being victimized by taking a few simple steps.

One way is to become familiar with the methods used by identity thieves. The Federal Trade Commission has a list of such methods and information on minimizing the risk of identity theft at www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/idtheft.htm.

You should also order a copy of your credit report each year from all three major credit bureaus. Frequently, a victim does not become aware his identity has been stolen until he applies for a loan or credit card, and that may be too late to catch the thief.

If you believe you have been the victim of identity theft, the FTC recommends taking three immediate steps to protect yourself.

First, contact the fraud departments of the three major credit bureaus. Tell them that you're an identity theft victim and request that a "fraud alert" be placed in your file, as well as a victim's statement asking creditors to call you before opening any new accounts or changing your existing accounts. A form called an ID Theft Affidavit can be extremely helpful in this regard and is available at base legal offices.

Second, contact the creditors that the identity thief has been dealing with in your name. Once you have reported the problem to someone in the security or fraud department, write a letter detailing the problem. Ask them to investigate it. They are obligated to do so under the law. Third, file a police report in your local area or in the area where the fraud took place. Get a copy of the report. This will help you when dealing with creditors.

The FTC can be of particular assistance when dealing with identity theft. If you believe you have been the victim of identity theft, call its Identity Theft Hotline toll-free at (877) 438-4338. (Courtesy of Air Combat Command News Service)