Advance Health Care Decisions

Powers of Attorney

Wills, Trusts, Estates

Guardianships

Medicare, Health Insurance

Medicaid in Nursing Homes

Long Term Care Financing

Social Security

Income Assistance

Nursing Home Issues

Other Consumer Issues:

Identity Theft

1. Extent of the problem
2. Federal and State laws
3. Prevention – steps you can take
4. What to do if you are a victim

Identity theft is a rapidly growing crime. Increasingly anonymous business transactions, vast numbers of mail and phone solicitations and expanding electronic access to personal information provide golden opportunities for crooks to steal and misuse the identities of others. Stolen Social Security numbers and other identifying information can be used to ravage existing accounts and run up debt in victims’ names. A victim often discovers the fraud only after being denied credit or being contacted by collectors because of debts about which he knew nothing.

A. The extent of the problem.

Identity theft has been rapidly expanding around the country since the late nineties. Over the last five years the Federal Trade Commission estimates the consumer loss at over 27 million dollars. In recent years complaints about Identity Theft have topped the FTC's top ten list of consumer fraud complaints, and the number is growing. In March 2004, one Alabama sheriff's department reported a new scam in Alabama and a few other states - con artists offering "Identity Theft Protection" to anxious consumers. Of course this is just another scam. To protect yourself, see Section C of this article, and go to the excellent materials referenced there.

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