D asked:


I have a small business in N.Y. and someone has evidently used my company name and now that company claims that I owe them $12K for equipment rental. I have never done business with them and do not have a need to rent equipment. I have requested several times for a copy of any documentation they may have and they keep telling me that I know I owe the money. They have now turned it over to a collection agency, which is now turning over to a legal process. My company has always been a credit worthy company and I am trying to fix this problem before it escalates any further. I have contacted Consumer affairs, FTC and the Office of the Attorney general, since this is not a consumer id theft no one can help. Does anyone know who I can call for help on this as a business, besides hiring my own attorney which I just cannot afford to do.

Jon Arnold asked:




You can hardly read the newspaper or watch the evening news these days without hearing about another case of identity theft. This is one of the fastest growing crimes of this decade and continues to increase. The Federal Trade Commission reports that reported cases of identity theft have been near or at the top of their list of consumer complaints, accounting for more than 40% of all FTC complaints filed.

In addition to the crime aspect of identity theft, the amount of money lost as a result of identity theft is estimated to be over $50 billion dollars every year, making it one of the most costly crimes on record to date. This includes identity theft losses from businesses as well as individual consumers.

When most people think of identity theft, they may associate that with using one’s credit card for an online purchase over the Internet. But in reality, the Internet is not associated with this crime in a surprisingly high number of reported cases, and that as much as 70% of ID theft cases stem from being an “inside job”. What this means is that an employee or former employee of a business or company is the thief, and this could even be at places where you normally shop today.

Further investigation into this crime shows that in more than 25% of reported cases, the victim knew or was related to the thief. This is not merely a misunderstanding between family members, but rather are actual reported cases where the crime was committed with malicious intent.

The foremost rule for identity theft protection is that you must be very careful who you share your personal information with. How well do you really know the person that you are sharing your data with? What do they need it for? In almost all cases, there is not a need to provide as much information as most people freely give out.

This is particularly true for your social security number, which is the key to the lock for virtually every piece of personal information about you. Do not carry your social security card in your purse or wallet, because if your purse or wallet gets stolen, you have also given away a critical piece of personal information.

If you have an email account, you have probably seen the emails allegedly from your bank stating they have had a security breach and need you to click a link to verify your personal information. NEVER click that link. The site you end up at may look official, even with your bank’s graphic logo, but it is all a mockup, and if you divulge your personal information there, you have just become a victim. If you question the reality of that email, call your bank and talk to someone in the fraud department, who can verify whether or not the bank really sent that. I can almost guarantee that they did not.

Keep your eyes open and consider what information you are giving out and ask yourself if that person really needs that information about you. Your identity is your business, and the months of hassles you will endure if you are a victim of identity theft is not worth the risk.

Enid Edginton asked:




You should report identity theft the minute that you discover it. This is because you typically only have about sixty days to dispute any charges on your card or in your account before you are liable for the stolen amounts.

Thankfully there are more resources than ever before to help victims. It is still a hassle to deal with the credit bureaus, creditors and collection agencies to deal with correcting the errors on your report but it is a lot better than it was in the past.

If you do find yourself to be the victim of identity theft then your first step should be to visit the website of the Federal Trade Commission at [http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft]. You can also call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) to get free information in the form of brochures about how to deal immediately with your identity theft.

Two other great resources for individuals who have experienced identity theft are the Identity Theft Resource center (www.idtheftcenter.or or 1-858-693-7935) and the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse (www.privacyrights.org).

When it comes to dealing with the financial institutions they come in two flavors – either they are kind and responsive to victims or they will treat you like a criminal until you can prove that it was someone else who rang up the charges on your account.

If you are a victim of identity theft here is what you immediately need to do to prevent the situation from getting out of your control (according to the FTC.

Keep notes of every conversation you have with the police, the credit card companies, merchants and anyone else. Remember to include dates, times and first and last names in these recorded so you can refer to them if you need to in later correspondence or a future legal procedure. Back up all telephone conversations these in writing with letters sent certified mail (return receipt requested.) The same goes for all formal letters, such as letters of dispute and Fraud Affidavits.

Add a fraud alert to your credit file and make sure the alert is on for seven years rather than for a shorter period. All three bureaus have joined together to create a fraud alert system. If you call one credit bureau then the others will be notified of the fraud.

The numbers to call to report your fraud are

Equifax — 1-800-525-6285

Experian – 1-888-397-3742

TransUnion – 1-800-680-7289

The credit bureaus are also required to send you a free credit report after you have reported a fraud alert. Also they are required to supply you with the contact information of any creditors that you don’t recognize on your credit report.

You might also have the option of putting a “freeze” on your credit reports. This prevents anyone from accessing your credit reports for any reason. This is a good idea if the fraudulent transactions have somehow caused negative comments on your reports that have yet to be removed.

Someone is using one of your existing credit or bank accounts to run up charges the bank or lender typically closes the account and issues a new one along with some kind of form or affidavit to report the fraud. If new accounts have been opened the financial institution also asks you to fill out a fraud affidavit. Many accept the uniform fraud affidavit that is widely available on the FTC website at [http://www.ftc.org].

Contact the police or local sheriff. It is a federal crime to assume someone else’s identity in both Canada and the United States. Supply as much documentation of the fraud that you can to support your claims. The idea is to get the law enforcement agency to list the affected accounts on the report as a police report can help enormously in getting problems resolved with merchants who may still try to make you liable for the fraudulent amounts.

Finally contact the bank and checking verification companies. If the crooks set up phony bank accounts in your name or stole check you need to close those accounts and stop payment on any outstanding checks. Then open new checking and savings accounts so you can start fresh.

Cathy Taylor asked:




It’s the number one source of consumer complaints at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and unfortunately, it’s one of the simplest crimes to commit. Identity theft involves information from your daily life, from shopping, bill-paying, and even applying for a job. Thieves take advantage of everyday opportunities to discover your personal information, including your Social Security number (SSN), bank or credit card account numbers, income, name, address, or phone number, and use it to commit fraud or other crimes.

How can a stranger get to your information? According to the FTC, identity thieves may pose as legitimate representatives of an organization, as business professionals or agents of the government, conning you into revealing sensitive information. Common scams include impersonating employees from banks, credit card companies, Internet service providers, and utility companies. If someone calls you claiming to represent a legitimate organization, confirm this by calling the customer service number listed on your statement or bill.

Thieves may also use your place of employment to get the information they need. A co-worker may steal information from your employer; someone could hack into your company’s computer and copy employee records; or a criminal could resort to the old-fashioned method of bribing someone you work with for your information. Check with your employer to find out the company policy on securing your records and disposing of them when you’re gone.

If your employer is authorized to pull credit reports on employees or potential customers, someone could take advantage of this access to retrieve illegal reports. Criminals may also pose as employers, landlords, or collection agents to pull your credit information. It’s a good idea to order a copy of your credit report once a year to check for unauthorized entries.

Shredding your documents before you throw them away is also good idea, whether at work or at home. Identity thieves have been known to sift through garbage, in the trash can or at the dump, to find sensitive information.

The most common form of identity theft is credit card fraud. Technology has allowed criminals to begin stealing your credit or debit card numbers as you use the cards, “skimming” them with an information storage device. In addition, thousands of drivers’ licenses and credit and debit cards are stolen each year. Keeping your Social Security card in a secure location and safeguarding your purse or wallet while at work are necessary precautions.

Even your mail is a source for identity thieves, who may complete credit card applications in your name and go on a spending spree. After stealing your bank or credit card statements, tax information, or box of replacement checks, criminals are able to access your accounts and spend the funds in your name. They may even change the address on your existing account, diverting the bills to keep you from recognizing the problem until it’s too late. Being aware of your billing cycles can help you catch a discrepancy in the arrival of your statements.

Identity thieves have a variety of ways to use your information for their personal gain. They may shop for big-ticket items using your credit or bank account information and then sell the items for cash. With your SSN and date of birth, they can open new bank accounts or apply for lines of credit. In fact, banks have granted loans to criminals using stolen identities for purchases as large as cars.

Telephone or internet service can be set up using your SSN. Thieves can avoid impending eviction or accumulated debt by filing bankruptcy in your name. Perhaps the most emotionally traumatic, police could issue a warrant for you if a criminal was arrested using your name and failed to appear at a court hearing.

The ways that identity thieves have conceived to acquire your personal information are numerous, but your vigilance and heightened awareness can curb their ability to make you a victim.

Caden Flynn asked:




Identity theft is the most rapidly growing crime in the United States. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) estimates that around nine million Americans will have their identity stolen per year. Identity theft is severe and scary, and when this issue is knocking on your door, it can become overwhelming. Will your bank, lenders, and insurance company help protect you?

Many lenders, creditors, and insurance corporations do offer some variety identity theft protection for purchase. But, the trouble with ID theft insurance is that you may not get enough bang for your buck. Purchasing the insurance is relatively inexpensive, typically twenty to one hundred dollars per year, but if your policy is no good, the low price is meaningless.

Check your policy very carefully and examine what you will receive for your efforts. Some identity theft policies won’t cover legal costs or lost wages that may be incurred while dealing with your identity theft issues. Some companies only cover the cost of ID theft expenses like making telephone calls, making copies, and mailing documents.

The deductible lying on your policy should also factor into your decision as to whether or not ID theft insurance is right for you and your family. Some deductibles are as high as 1000 dollars, and because the average identity theft victim only pays around 1500 bucks to recover, a 1000-dollar deductible doesn’t serve much purpose.

Even if you’re lucky enough to get great coverage, you may want to consider the fact that you might be able to acquire identity theft protection free of charge. Some card businesses and banks provide identity theft support to customers at no cost. American Express is one such card. They offer 24-hour services for determining the severity of your case and what steps you should be taking to correct the problem.

ID theft insurance sounds like a good idea, but the benefits thereof are usually lacking. The editing staff of a foremost consumer publication reported that identification theft policies are characteristically not worth the cost. Why spend hard earned money for something that’s not going to provide you with the help you need or the coverage you require should the worse happen?

The good news is that you don’t have to wait until it happens to you to take steps to deal with identity theft There are lots of measures you can use to defend yourself. Keep your personal information under lock and key and pay close attention to your bills and watch for fraudulent charges. Shred documents that contain personal information. Request copies of each of your 3 credit reports in order to check them for illegal accounts.

Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. A little proactivity on your part now can prevent a lot of heartache later.

MyEarbot asked:

In the course of a busy day, you may write a check at the grocery store, charge tickets to a ball game, rent a car, mail your tax returns, change service providers for your cell phone, or apply for a credit card. Chances are you don’t give these everyday transactions a second thought. But an identity thief does. Identity theft is a serious crime. People whose identities have been stolen can spend months or years and thousands of dollars cleaning up the mess the thieves have made of a good name and credit record. In the meantime, victims of identity theft may lose job opportunities, be refused loans for education, housing, or cars, and even get arrested for crimes they didn’t commit. Humiliation, anger, and frustration are among the feelings victims experience as they navigate the process of rescuing their identity. Working with other government agencies and organizations, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has produced this booklet to help you remedy the effects of an identity theft. It describes what steps to take, your legal rights, how to handle specific problems you may encounter on the way to clearing your name, and what to watch for in the future.