Continued from page 1
3. Close any accounts that you don't use. Keep
number of credit card accounts and lines of credit you use to a minimum.
4. Once a year request a copy of your credit report and check it for accuracy. You can get your credit report from Equifax for $9.00 www.equifax.com
5. Carefully examine your monthly financial statements for unusual activity and examine your credit card bills for charges you can't identify.
If You Become a Victim
1. Immediately contact
creditors where fraudulent charges were made and request that a fraud alert be placed on your file.
2. Under
Truth in Lending Act, you can be held liable for a maximum of $50.00 in unauthorized charges per credit card.
3. Download an identity theft affidavit from
Federal Trade Commission Web site. http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/affidavit.htm
4. File a report with your local police department.
5. Keep a complete record of
identity theft and your efforts to clear your records. Send all letters related to
theft by certified mail. Keep a record of all telephone calls you made and received, with dates and
names of
individuals you spoke to.
Identity theft is one of
fastest growing crimes in
U.S. It can happen to you. Protect yourself by guarding your private information and carefully examining your financial statements. If you become a victim, take
steps outlined above, and keep a complete record of your efforts to repair
damage caused by this crime. ---------------------------------------------------------- Resource Box: Copyright(C)2002 Bucaro TecHelp. To learn how to maintain your computer and use it more effectively to design a Web site and make money on
Web visit http://bucarotechelp.com To subscribe to Bucaro TecHelp Newsletter Send a blank email to bucarotechelp-subscribe@topica.com ----------------------------------------------------------

None