http://sierrawesternhomeloans.com/Identity_theft_protection.html Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal identifying information, like your name, Social Security number, or credit card number, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes. en-us Sierra Western Home Loans Sierra Western Home Loans Sierra Western Home Loans Sat, 31 Mar 2007 22:45:30 GMT FeedEdit http://sierrawesternhomeloans.com/Identity_theft_protection.html What is Identity theft? Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal identifying information, like your name, Social Security number, or credit card number, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes. The Federal Trade Commission estimates that as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. In fact, you or someone you know may have experienced some form of identity theft. Repairing the damage caused by identity thieves takes time and money. How can identity theft happen to you? It is frightening to realize that there is more than one way someone can steal your personal information. But it must be accepted so that you can protect yourself and loved ones from being a victim of identity theft. It seems harmless to just throw away junk mail, however junk mail is a common gateway to your information. Pre-approved credit card offers are a dream come true for identity thieves as they are able to open lines of credit on your behalf. Dumpster diving is also a technique used; thieves rummage through your trash in search of bank or credit card statements. Always be sure to shred any documents with important information. They may also try to steal personal information from you through email or phone by posing as legitimate companies and claiming that you have a problem with your account. This practice is known as "phishing" online or pretexting by phone. With advancing technology, clerks working at places you patron can easily take a picture with camera phones to capture credit card numbers. This is why it is important to always be alert and discrete with your information. Warning signs that you may be a victim include: Receiving a phone call or a letter either approving or denying credit for accounts you have not requested. You no longer receive your credit card statements, or you notice that some of your mail seems to be missing. Your credit card statement includes charges for things you know you never bought. A collection agency tells you they are collecting for an account you never opened. How can you prevent being a victim? The FTC advises that the best way to catch identity theft is to regularly monitor your credit report. Every time someone applies for a line of credit in your name it will come up on your credit report. Stop the junk mail. Your discarded mail is an entry to your information. Call the Credit Bureaus Main Opt-Out Line 888 567-8688 to remove your name from the list of people eligible to receive offers of credit for 5 years. Check out our website www.sierrawestern.com for complete directions to opt yourself out. Junk mail is also a waste of resources about 62 million trees and 25 billion gallons of water are used to produce a typical year's worth of junk mail in the United States. Filing a police report, notifying creditors, and disputing any unauthorized transactions are steps you must take to restore your good name. Try to save yourself the time, money and emotional toll of being a victim. For more information about Identity Theft, how to deter it from happening to you, and what to do if you are a victim please visit the Federal Trade Commission website at http://www.privacy.ca.gov/cover/identitytheft.htm. What Can You Do to Protect Yourself? From the U.S. Treasury Dept. Explains the steps you can take to protect yourself from identity theft. Identity theft is a serious crime. It occurs when your personal information is stolen and used without your knowledge to commit fraud or other crimes. Identity theft can cost you time and money. It can destroy your credit and ruin your good name. Deter identity thieves by safeguarding your information. ■ Shred financial documents and paperwork with personal information before you discard them. ■ Protect your Social Security number. Don't carry your Social Security card in your wallet or write your Social Security number on a check. Give it out only if absolutely necessary or ask to use another identifier. ■ Don't give out personal information on the phone, through the mail, or over the Internet unless you know who you are dealing with. ■ Never click on links sent in unsolicited emails; instead, type in a web address you know. Use firewalls, anti-spyware, and anti-virus software to protect your home computer; keep them up-to-date. Visit OnGuardOnline.gov for more information. ■ Don't use an obvious password like your birth date, your mother's maiden name, or the last four digits of your Social Security number. ■ Keep your personal information in a secure place at home, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help, or are having work done in your house. Defend against ID theft as soon as you suspect it. ■ Place a "Fraud Alert" on your credit reports, and review the reports carefully. The alert tells creditors to follow certain procedures before they open new accounts in your name or make changes to your existing accounts. The three nationwide consumer reporting companies have toll-free numbers for placing an initial 90-day fraud alert; a call to one company is sufficient: Equifax: 1-800-525-6285 Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742) TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289 FTC.gov http://sierrawesternhomeloans.com Sat, 31 Mar 2007 22:44:06 GMT