ID Assist E-News August 2008

How do you find out if your identity has been stolen?

Unfortunately, many consumers learn that their identity has been stolen after some damage has been done.

• You may find out when bill collection agencies contact you for overdue debts you never incurred.
• You may find out when you apply for a mortgage or car loan and learn that problems with your credit history are holding up the loan.
• You may find out when you get something in the mail about an apartment you never rented, a house you never bought, or a job you never held.

Early detection of a potential identity theft can make a big difference. Keep an eye out for any suspicious activity by routinely monitoring:

• Financial statements. Monitor your financial accounts and billing statements regularly, looking closely for charges you did not make.
• Credit reports. Credit reports contain information about you, including what accounts you have and how you pay your bills. If an identity thief is opening credit accounts in your name, these accounts are likely to show up on your credit report.

ID Theft Assist offers FREE Credit Monitoring with your membership. Be sure to take a proactive approach by taking advantage of this service to minimize any fraudulent activity before it gets worse.


MOST RECENT COMPROMISES

July 17, 2008 - Bristol-Myers Squibb (Jacksonville, FL)
A backup computer-data tape containing 42,000 employees' personal information, including Social Security numbers, was stolen while being transported from a storage facility.

July 9, 2008 - Division of Motor Vehicles Colorado (Colorado)
The DMV regularly sends large batches of personal information over the Internet without encryption and has failed to properly limit access to its database, according to a recent audit. At one point, 33 former DMV employees could access 3.4 million names, addresses, dates of birth and Social Security numbers of DMV customers.

July 7, 2008 - Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (Tallahassee, FL)
A security breach in the Organ and Tissue Donor Registry exposed 55,000 donors' personal information, including their names, addresses, birth dates and driver license and social security numbers.