Check out Tips detail safeguards to combat ID theft | The Columbus Dispatch

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Tips detail safeguards to combat ID theft Tuesday, October 20, 2009 3:13 AM By Steve Wartenberg THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH More than 8,000 Ohioans last year became the victims of identity theft, a crime that's still sweeping the nation. "It's the fastest-growing crime in the United States, and 10 million people in the United States were affected last year," said Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray. To mark National Protect Your Identity Week, which runs through Friday, he and other experts held a news conference to warn Ohioans of the dangers of identity theft and offer tips on how to avoid it and what to do if it happens. State residents filed 8,237 identity-theft complaints with the Federal Trade Commission in 2008, up from 7,178 in 2007 and 6,878 in 2006. "It's on the rise," said Cpl. Zach Scott of the Franklin County sheriff's office. "And when they get someone's (credit-card) information, what they do is start hitting them as fast as possible." Thieves most often steal credit-card information to make fraudulent purchases. In more extreme cases, they're able to steal enough information to open accounts or even take out loans and mortgages in another person's name. "People don't realize how valuable their Social Security numbers and bank-account numbers are," Cordray said. "And recovery from identity theft can take months or years." To make that process easier, the attorney general's office now offers an Identity Theft Repair Kit, a step-by-step guide on what to do after personal or financial information has been pilfered. It includes information on filing a police report, closing accounts, placing a fraud alert on credit files and how to apply for PASSPORT, which provides proof to law-enforcement officials and creditors that an identity has been stolen. "When you go to purchase a car and get a loan, they will understand you were the victim of identity theft and the score that comes up isn't your true credit score," Cordray said. Another key to preventing identity theft is keeping an eye on your credit reports, said Michael Kappas, chief executive of Consumer Credit Counseling Service. Reports should be monitored to make sure mistaken or fraudulent activity is addressed right away. Sometimes ID theft occurs in the course of doing business. The best way to prevent problems is to interact with trustworthy companies. When dealing with an unfamiliar firm, check it out first on the Better Business Bureau's Web site, said Kip Morse, president of the central Ohio Better Business Bureau. "If the Better Business Bureau doesn't know anything about them, that's a red flag," he said. swartenberg@dispatch.com Identity theft Avoid being a victim • Carry only the credit cards you need. Keep your Social Security card at home in a safe place. • Don't give out personal information unless you initiate the contact. • When doing business online, make sure the site is secure and your antivirus firewall and other personal-computer security applications are up to date. • Shred all documents that include personal and financial information. • Keep copies of your credit cards -- front and back -- in a safe place so you will be able to call the provider if they are stolen. • Check your credit history at least once a year using www.AnnualCreditReport.com or call 1-877-322-8228. • Review all your medical, bank and credit-card statements on a regular basis and notify the provider of any discrepancies. Resources • For more information on identity theft or if you think you may be a victim, call the Ohio attorney general's identity-theft hot line at 1-888-MY-ID-4-ME (1-888-694-3463). • For the attorney general's new Identity Theft Repair Kit, go to www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/IDTheftRepairKit • For more information on how to secure and repair your credit, go to: www.apprisen.com • For additional tips on how to recover from identity theft, go to www.sheriff.franklin.oh.us • To research a business rating, go to www.bbb.org Source: Ohio attorney general