FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 3, 2003

NEWARK - In recognition of National Consumer Protection Week - Feb. 2 through Feb. 8 - Attorney General David Samson and New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs Director Reni Erdos are warning consumers about the dangers of identity theft and are offering tips on what they can do to protect themselves from it.

This year's National Consumer Protection Week theme is "Information Security: Putting the Pieces Together."

"Identity theft ruins people's lives," Attorney General Samson said. "This is a vicious scheme that causes profound economic injury to unsuspecting, innocent consumers and can take months or even years and a great deal of effort on the part of the victims to restore their good name and credit."

Identity thieves carry out their frauds by stealing people's identifying information, such as Social Security number, date of birth and financial records and then use the ill-gotten information to establish credit and run up debt in their victims' names. Perpetrators get the information a number of ways, according to experts. They steal from their victims' mailboxes; they steal wallets and purses containing identification and credit and bank cards; and even retrieve discarded credit card bills and receipts from the trash " an act known as dumpster diving. They complete change of address forms to divert their victims' mail to another location and they buy personal information from unscrupulous "inside" sources who have access to personal information, such as a store employee.

"Identity thieves use stolen information to open bank accounts and write bad checks against the account. They open credit card accounts and/or establish phone and wireless service in the consumer's name, run up charges on the accounts and don't pay the bills," Director Erdos said. "These are just some of the examples of how the fraud is carried out. Sadly, the frauds often take place for some time before the victims even suspect something is wrong. By then it's too late. Victims' credit reports are ruined, collection agencies are calling them demanding payment on accounts they know nothing about and they're being turned down for loans."

Victims have reported spending months and hundreds of dollars in an attempt to repair the damage caused by identity thieves.

Attorney General Samson and Director Erdos are urging consumers to heed the following tips to safeguard their personal information and protect themselves from identity theft:

• Don't carry extra credit cards, your social security card, birth certificate or passport in your purse or wallet, except when needed.
  
  
• Give your Social Security number out only when absolutely necessary. Do not have your Social Security number printed on your checks and don't let merchants hand-write it onto your checks because of the risk of fraud.
  
  
• When you order new checks, do not have them sent to your home's mailbox. Pick them up at the bank instead. If your checks are stolen, cancel your checking account.
  
  
• When you pay bills, do not leave the envelopes containing your checks at your mailbox for the postal carrier to pick up. If stolen, your checks can be altered and then cashed by the imposter. It is best to mail bills and other sensitive items at the post office.
  
  
• Carefully review your credit card statements, phone bills and cellular phone bills for unauthorized charges or fraudulent use.
  
  
• When creating passwords or personal identification numbers (PINs), do not use the last four digits of your social security number, your birth date, middle name, mother's maiden name or anything else that could be easily traced. Memorize all your passwords. Don't record them on anything in your wallet.
  
  
• Shield your hand when using a bank automated teller machine or making a long distance phone call with your phone card. "Shoulder surfers" may be nearby with binoculars or video camera.
  
  
• Never give your credit card information over the telephone unless you have initiated the call and have a trusted business relationship with the company you have called.
  
  
• Pay attention to your billing cycles and contact your creditors if your bills do not arrive on time.
  
  
• Keep a list of your credit cards, account numbers, expiration dates and phone numbers of customer service departments so you can contact them quickly, if necessary.
  
  
• Always take your credit card receipts and tear them into small pieces or shred them before disposing of them. Do the same with pre-approved credit offers.
  
  
• Order your credit report from the three credit-reporting agencies every year and review to make sure the information is accurate and does not include any unauthorized activities. Under New Jersey law, you're entitled to one free credit report a year from each of the credit-reporting agencies. Equifax: 1-800-685-1111, Experian: 1-800-583-4080 and Trans Union 1-800-888-4213 or 1-800-916-8800.

If you do become a victim of identity theft, file a police report and keep a copy of it; contact the fraud departments of each of the three major credit bureaus to tell them you're a victim of identity theft. Also, contact the Federal Trade Commission to obtain its ID Theft Affidavit. The form may help you close unauthorized accounts and get rid of debts fraudulently put in your name.