Identity Theft

Be especially careful with sensitive personal information. Your Social Security number should not be requested except by an employer, government agency, lender or credit bureau. If that information falls into the wrong hands, it can be used by someone to impersonate you in order to steal from your accounts or to steal from others in your name. Many states no longer use Social Security numbers on drivers' licenses. Some states offer random numbers as alternatives and bar merchants from asking consumers to put their social security numbers on checks or credit card slips.

Check your credit report regularly. Once a year should be enough, but you may want to check it more frequently if you believe that someone else has impersonated you in order to get credit or other benefits in your name. ...The Congress of the United States asked the Federal Trade Commission to provide information to consumers about identity theft and to take complaints from those whose identities have been stolen.

If you've been a victim of identity theft, you can call the FTC's Identity Theft Hotline at 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338, or file a complaint online at www.consumer.gov/idtheft.

Source: Federal Trade Commission and Attorney General of Washington, 2003

Forms/Resources you may need:

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ID Theft prevention-- safeguarding tips.pdf

ID Theft Incident Detail Form.pdf

ID Theft Affidavit.pdf

ID Theft-- the investigation.pdf