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Consumer Protection Tips from Attorney General Rob McKenna Protect Yourself from Identity Theft Consumer: I’ve read numerous reports about computer hackers stealing credit card numbers and personal information. I’m worried about identity theft. Where do I turn for help if I become a victim? What should I do to protect myself? Attorney General Rob McKenna: Identity theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the nation and here in Washington. It should be of great concern to all of us, as recent studies estimate that one out of six people will become a victim. Identity theft occurs when someone steals personal information, then uses it to obtain credit in the victim’s name, loot his or her bank account, or commit another crime. These crooks cost U.S. consumers more than $53 billion a year and hurt individuals and businesses. In addition to hacking into company computers, thieves target people in their homes. They try to trick consumers out of personal information by sending e-mails that appear to come from businesses they have accounts with, such as a bank or online auction site.Thieves can get your information though low-tech means, too, by stealing mail, sifting through trash, or swiping your wallet. Cons may call you at home, pretending to be from a credit card company, and ask for personal information such as a Social Security number.Cleaning up the mess thieves have made of your good name can be costly and time-consuming. My office is committed to helping stop these kinds of crimes before they happen by educating consumers. We are also a resource for local prosecutors who bring these criminals to justice.If you become a victim of ID theft, take these steps: * Contact the fraud departments of any one of the three major credit bureaus -Experian, Equifax or Trans Union – to place a fraud alert on your credit file. All three reports will be sent to you at no cost; review them carefully.* Close accounts in question. * File a police report. * File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission online at www.consumer.gov/idtheft or by calling 1-877-438-4338.* Beginning July 24, ID theft victims can place a security freeze on a credit report that prohibits credit bureaus from releasing any information without authorization. The victim must file a police report then send a request by certified mail to a credit bureau.Here are some ways to protect your identity: * Check bank and credit card statements each month for suspicious activity. * Thoroughly review your credit report at least once a year. You may request a free annual copy from www.annualcreditreport.com or by calling 1-877-322-8228.* Remove your name from mailing lists for “pre-approved” credit cards that often come with blank checks. Call 1-888-567-8688.* Don’t give your Social Security number, mother’s maiden name, birth date or account numbers to strangers who contact you by phone, Internet or mail. Legitimate financial or government organizations that do business with you already have this information and won’t call to ask for it.* Don’t leave outgoing mail in your mailbox; take it to a collection box or post office. Promptly remove delivered mail. Consider purchasing a locking mailbox. If you plan to be away, call the U.S. Postal Service at 1-800-275-8777 to request a vacation hold. * Invest in a shredder, preferably one that slices in two directions, and destroy all sensitive information – charge receipts, insurance forms, physician bills, bank statements, expired charge cards, checks, and credit offers. * Put passwords on your credit, bank and phone accounts. * Don’t carry your Social Security card or other ID and credit cards you don’t regularly use. Store them in a secure place.* Pay attention to when your bills arrive. If they don’t arrive on time, call the creditor to make sure a thief hasn’t changed your billing address.* Keep a copy of the front and back of all credit cards in a secure location. In the event you do lose one or become a victim of fraud, you will have the relevant information to close your account.* Update your computer’s virus protection software and use a firewall to limit hackers’ access. * Guard online transactions. Use a secure browser that scrambles information you send. Look for the “lock” icon on the status bar and a Web address that begins with “https:” instead of the standard “http:”.Additional information on identity theft is available from the Attorney General Office at www.atg.wa.gov/consumer/idprivacy and the Federal Trade Commission at www.consumer.gov/idtheft.* Attorney General Rob McKenna offers this public service to help consumers avoid fraud and to promote a fair and informed marketplace. Although some details have been changed, cases appearing in this column are based on actual complaints or questions received by the Attorney General’s Office. If you have a consumer complaint or inquiry, contact the Consumer Protection Division at www.atg.wa.gov or 800-551-4636. To suggest a future topic for this column, send an e-mail to asktheag@atg.wa.gov or write to “Ask the AG”, Attorney General’s Office, 900 4th Ave. Suite 2000, Seattle, WA 98164-1012.