Identit Theft

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Identity Theft

According to an article in last fall’s WSJ, identity theft is the fastest growing crime in America. The other day I read that even Oprah has been a victim. (She was targeted by a “career con artist”). For information available free from the federal government go to www.pueblo.gsa.gov or call 1-888-878-3256 (ask for dept 80). At the website the link is at the top Parade Magazine Stop Identity Theft. Further down the page on the right is also a link for privacy issues that takes you to several other links that are sorted by topic. When I checked this out there were 10 other links all relating to identity theft; the rest of the page has to do with privacy links.

But – in the mean time – do these simple things:

1) Buy a shredder (you should already have one of these, they are so inexpensive!) and before throwing them out, destroy any document that shows your social security number, your bank account number, credit card statements (this includes all that extra mail they send you, which often has your account number on it), financial statements, invitations to apply from credit card companies, etc.

2) Obtain credit reports from the 3 major bureaus:

Equifax 1-800-525-6285

Experian 1-888-397-3742

TransUnion 1-800-680-7289

Look for accounts you have and make sure you don’t have any you didn’t open. Make sure you shred these, too, after you review the information.

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therefore, does not and will not sell, offer to sell, or
offer to buy any security. The information presented
on these site pages is provided for basic understanding.