ID THEFT NOT ONLY FINANCIAL!!

Across the country, the threat of identity theft continues to climb. Lawmakers at every level are introducing legislation aimed to slow down these identity thieves. These measures propose stiffer penalties, more uniform reporting procedures, as well as better communication between retailers and consumers.

Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the United States. According to a report released in January 2006 by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), identity theft constituted 37 percent of all fraud complaints in 2005. Defined as the deliberate assumption of another person’s identity, you most commonly hear about identity theft related to financial gain. However, only 28 percent of the identity theft complaints reported to the FTC have to do with financial or credit fraud. What does this mean? Simply that these thieves are becoming increasingly creative with the way they use your personal information.

There are five major types of identity theft affecting individuals. They are: Driver’s License Identity, Medical Identity, Social Security Number Identity, Character/Criminal Identity, and Financial/Credit Identity. From using your medical benefits to enabling illegal immigrants to more insidious crimes – identity fraud criminals are continually inventing new ways to use stolen information.

No one is immune. An experienced thief can assume your identity and ruin your credit and your reputation. It is essential that all of us become vigilant in the protection of our personal information. How do we do this? First of all, it is also imperative that everyone obtain a free credit report from www.annualcreditreport.com as soon as possible. From this website, you can get a free copy of your credit report from each of the three credit reporting bureaus. Next, you need to be very careful with giving out personal information about your self. Now remember, identity thieves are not only looking for financial or credit information. As I mentioned earlier, on 28 percent of all identity thefts reported were financial/credit related. Any information can be used by the identity thief. Do not give out any information unless it is necessary. If you find that you are a victim of identity theft, immediately call your local police department. From this point, you can expect a turbulent and stressful experience in the restoration of your identity.

The grim reality is that identity theft is here to stay. Everyone must be aware of the effects of identity theft. We must all be extremely protective of our identities. We only have one, and when it gets into the hands of an identity thief, the result can be devastating. In addition, the time to correct the problems caused by this horrible crime can be years. Be aware and be careful.

Mel Rapozo is a licensed Private Detective on Kauai and a Certified Identity Theft Risk Management Specialist. He has been researching Identity Theft for the last four years, and has conducted free seminars and workshops throughout the state. For more information on identity theft, or to inquire about a free workshop or seminar, call (808) 245-3539 or toll-free at (800) 306-3063.