Booklet offers help for identity theft Published Jan. 3, 2003 By Gerry J. Gilmore American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- A Federal Trade Commission booklet offers guidance for people who have fallen victim to a fast-growing crime: identity theft.Defense Department officials believe that it is possible that some Tricare beneficiaries could be subject to identity thievery because of the Dec. 14 theft of office computers in Phoenix from military health-care contractor TriWest Healthcare Alliance.The FTC publication, "ID Theft: When Bad Things Happen to Your Good Name," points out that skilled identity thieves have proven adept over the last several years. It explains how they use low- and high-tech methods to gain access to personal data like social security numbers and credit card account information.Identity thieves use such information to open up new credit accounts, running up thousands of dollars of illicit bills, including bank and automobile loans, which are charged to victims.The publication is available online at www.consumer.gov/idtheft. (Courtesy of American Forces Press Service)