Identity Theft Is On The Rise
Don't Let It Happen To You

LINCOLN - The Nebraska Attorney General's Office has warned consumers that identity theft crimes are on the rise nationwide.

Having your identity stolen can devastate your good credit and can require endless hours of telephone and written communication to resolve.  When an imposter obtains your personal identifying information such as your Social Security number, bank, or credit card account numbers, that imposter can assume your identity.  Your personal information can be used by the identity thief to fraudulently open credit card accounts, secure deposits on cars and housing, and even to rob your retirement earnings.

Identity thieves are information seekers.  They obtain your personal information by sorting through your trash for discarded receipts and other personal information, accessing public records and even stealing from your mailbox.

You can greatly reduce your chances of being the next victim of identity theft by following some precautionary steps to protect your personal identifying information.

• Do not carry your Social Security card, birth certificate, or passport in your wallet or purse, except when needed.

• Consider removing "extra" information from your printed checks such as your middle name or initial.  Never have your Social Security number printed on your checks.

• You may not want to leave envelopes containing checks at your home mailbox for the postal carrier to pick up.  Credit card payments contain all the information an identity thief needs.

• Never give credit card information or other personal information over the telephone to an unknown caller.  Callers who indicate they represent your bank or need your personal identification numbers to confirm your identity to issue you a prize should be treated with suspicion.

• Do not give your Social Security number or a credit card account number as identification when cashing a check.  It is a legitimate request for a business to ask to see your driver's license as a means of identification.

• Be careful when disposing of old bank account statements, bank transaction slips or anything that has your bank or credit card account numbers or your Social Security number on it.  Identity thieves may be very interested in your "trash."

Many times you may be unaware that your identity has been stolen until you apply for a credit card, or a loan for a new car or home and find your credit report shows inaccuracies or fraudulent use of your account.  To avoid a surprise of this kind, you may want to order your credit report once a year from each of the three credit bureaus to check for any problems.

Attorney General's Office
Consumer Protection Division
2115 State Capitol Building
Lincoln, NE  68509
(402) 471-2682
Consumer Protection Line:  800-727-6432