Using the Internet to Protect Against
Identity Theft
A sad fact that most
know: There are a wide variety of ways to have your identity
stolen—from dumpster-diving trash-scroungers to unscrupulous retail
employees availing themselves of your personal information.
Nevertheless, the Internet retains perhaps the most notorious
reputation for being an at-risk arena, a place in which online
transactions are particularly imperiled with the threat of high-tech
thievery.
The deservedness of this
reputation aside, a lesser-known fact is that the Internet also offers
a number of means to protect oneself against identity theft—in addition
to numerous resources to lend assistance to those who have been
victimized.
- Consumers have a right
to “opt out” and have their names removed from lists sold by
credit-reporting bureaus that are the source of unsolicited credit and
insurance offers; go to www.optoutprescreen.com.
- Being aware of the
status of your credit rating is an important safeguard against identity
theft. Consumers are entitled to an annual free credit file
disclosure—commonly known as a credit report—from each of the
nationwide consumer credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian, and
TransUnion. Visit www.annualcreditreport.com.
- A number of websites
offer the latest on frauds and scams: two such sites are www.snopes.com and www.lookstoogoodtobetrue.gov.
The Arkansas Attorney General’s website also offers consumer protection
information at www.ag.state.ar.us,
as does the FBI at www.fbi.gov/becrimesmart.htm.
- The Federal Trade
Commission offers tips on avoiding identity theft at www.consumer.gov/idtheft.
The same site also offers extensive recommendations for those who have
been subjects of this crime.
- Identity theft victims
in Arkansas may place a security freeze on their credit reports;
consult the Consumer’s Union website for specific freeze-law details at
www.financialprivacynow.org.
- Complaints regarding
fraud related to stolen mail or correspondence can be directed to https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/forms/MailFraudComplaint.aspx.
Complaints regarding scams directed at senior citizens can be made at www.elderabusecenter.org.
Arkansas
State Employees
Association
P.O. Box 1588 --
Little Rock,
Arkansas 72203
Ph: (501) 378-0187
Fax: (501)
378-0113 Email: aseaar@aseaar.org
Copyright
©1998 Arkansas
State Employees Association, Inc.
All rights reserved.
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