EDITOR'S NOTE: This article was written in March of 2005. Please be advised that some of the phone numbers listed in the article may have changed.

Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in America. Every time I speak, more and more hands go up when I ask if anyone has been or knows of someone who has been a victim of this appalling act. In fact, identity theft accounts for about 40% of all fraud crimes nationally. In 2004 more than 246,000 victims reported to the Federal Trade Commission. Probably at least that many did not file a complaint.

Around the world, safeguards are rapidly being put into place by both the public and private sectors. Germans who lose or misplace a wallet will soon be able to call a single toll-free number to freeze all their accounts so that missing bank cards cannot be used. This service provided by the government is the first of its kind worldwide. In the United States, the State of New Mexico Securities Division has launched a $200,000 educational campaign to alert people to the magnitude of the crime and to advise them on how to protect themselves and there is legislation pending in the U.S. Senate. On the private side, many companies championing the data security cause. For example, Equifax just rolled out a downloadable Internet toolbar defense against online fraud and identity
theft that helps consumers quickly determine the safety levels of websites - before they reveal personal information that could make them vulnerable to fraud.

Protecting yourself from identity theft is one thing. Recovering from it is another, Do you know what to do if it happens to you?
Here are some steps to take.

1. File a report with your local law enforcement office or the one in the community where the identity theft took place. Ask the officer to take a report and give you the report number or a copy of the report for the credit bureaus, the FTC affidavit and any creditors.
   1. Contact the fraud departments of the three major credit card bureaus:
   2. Equifax = Report Fraud: (800) 525-6285 - Website: www.equifax.com
   3. Experian=Report Fraud: (888) EXPERIAN (397-3742) Website: www.experian.com
2. TransUnion=Report Fraud: (800) 680-7289 - Website: www.tuc.com
3. The FTC maintains an Identity Theft Data Clearinghouse. Report the crime to them. Call toll free 877-438-4338 or complete the online complaint form at www.ftc.gov
4. Complete the Identity Theft Affidavit form at www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/affidavit.pdf
5. Contact creditors for any accounts that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. Send them a copy of your FTC affidavit, together with the Police Report Number and any other information they require.
6. Take control-
   1. If an identity thief has stolen your mail, report it to your local postal inspector.
   2. If an identity thief has changed the billing address on an existing bank or credit card, close the account. When you open a new account, ask that a password be used before any inquiries or changes can be made to the account. Do not close accounts or credit cards that have not been compromised.
   3. If an identity thief has accessed your bank accounts, checking accounts or ATM card, close those accounts immediately. When you open new accounts, insist on password-only access.
   4. If an identity thief has established new phone or wireless service in your name or is using your telephone calling card and is making unauthorized calls, contact the service provider immediately to cancel the account and calling card. Get new accounts and new PIN. Get a closing statement on the prior account for your records.
   5. If it appears someone is using your Social Security Number (SSN) when applying for a job, contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) to verify the accuracy of your reported earnings that you name is reported correctly. Call (800) 772-1213 to check your Social Security Statement.

If it appears someone is using your SSN for credit reasons, call the SSN Fraud Hotline 1-800-269-0271 and report the theft.

Darity Wesley is CEO and Legal Counsel for Privacy Solutions, Inc. a San Diego based consulting firm. Her team of Privacy Gurus® work with you to create policies and procedures to establish the expectation of privacy for your members, clients, customers, prospects, affiliates, associates, employees and vendors. You can reach her at (619)670-9462 or Darity@privacygurus.com