A 2006 survey by the FTC showed that almost 9 million people had been the victims of identity theft that year. That is about 4 percent of the adult population of the United States. The total cost exceeded $50 billion. The victims were fairly evenly spread among all age groups. Two thirds of the cases involved credit cards and one fifth involved bank accounts.

Methods of stealing identities range from the obvious to the sophisticated. The obvious includes just stealing a wallet or purse; going through trash looking for bills with personal information; or stealing mail that includes bank statements, new checks or pre-approved credit card offers. More sophisticated methods include electronic phishing by pretending to be a financial institution and sending spam e-mail or pop-up messages to get you to reveal personal data. Another technique is convincing your bank to change the address on your account so that new checks and other information are sent to the wrong address.

What do the thieves do with your stolen identity? They may open new credit card accounts in your name and then have the poor taste not to pay them on time, which results in delinquent accounts on your credit report. By changing the address on your bank account, they can get access to blank checks that they pass in your name. They may open a new phone account in your name, or get a driver’s license that’s in your name but with their picture. And – cutest of all – if arrested for some unrelated matter, they give the police your name, post bail, and then fail to show for the scheduled court hearing. That results in an
arrest warrant being issued in your name.

So what can you do to protect yourself?

• Don’t carry extra credit cards or a social security card in your wallet or purse.
• Install a locked mailbox at your residence.
• Don’t have the bank mail new checks to your house – pick them up at the bank.
• Pay bills electronically.
• Keep photocopies of your credit cards in a safe place at home.
• Never give out personal data over the phone unless you have initiated the call.
• Order your free credit report from the major credit bureaus annually.
• Never throw away credit card receipts. Shred them after the bill is paid.
• Check your bank accounts and credit card accounts online frequently.
• Change passwords periodically.
• Shred all confidential data before putting it in the trash.
If you are unlucky enough to be the victim of identity theft, do the following immediately:

• File a fraud alert with the three credit reporting agencies.
• Close any accounts that might have been compromised.
• Change your account numbers, PIN and passwords.
• File a report with the local police department.

Alan Silverman is a Marina resident and a board member of the Marina Community Association. E-mail: [email protected]