Identity theft is when someone obtains a person's identifying information, such as a name, address, date of birth, social security number or mother's maiden name. Using this information illegally, an imposter can open new credit card accounts, empty your bank accounts, buy a car, apply for loans, open a cellular account, etc.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation says Identity Theft is the fastest growing 'white collar' crime across our country. According to the Federal Trade Commission's Identity Theft Data Clearinghouse, Florida ranks fourth among states and Miami is fifth among cities nationwide in reported cases.
The Consumer Services Department wants you to know that guarding your personal information can minimize your chances of becoming a victim of identity theft. The following resources will assist you in keeping your personal information out of the hands of criminals.
Federal Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act of 1998
The Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act makes it a federal crime when someone:
"Knowingly transfers or uses, without lawful authority, a means of identification of another person with the intent to commit, or to aid or abet, any unlawful activity that constitutes a violation of federal law, or that constitutes a felony under any applicable state or local law."
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Florida Statute 817.568 Criminal use of personal identification information
Makes it a state crime when someone:
"Willfully and without authorization fraudulently uses, or possesses with intent to fraudulently use, personal identification information concerning an individual without first obtaining that individual's consent."
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Federal Trade Commission
Identity Theft Hotline:
Telephone Toll-free: 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338);
TDD: 202-326-2502;
Mail: Identity Theft Clearinghouse
Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20580;
Or Online: www.consumer.gov/idtheft
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Credit Bureaus
Equifax - www.equifax.com
To order your report call: 1-800-685-1111
or write: P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
To report fraud call: 1-800-525-6285
and write: P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
Experian - www.experian.com
To order your report call: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
or write: P.O. Box 2104, Allen TX 75013
To report fraud call: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
and write: P.O. Box 9532, Allen TX 75013
To have your name removed from Experian's marketing lists call: 1-800-407-1088
Trans Union - www.tuc.com
To order your report call: 1-800-916-8800
or write: P.O. Box 1000, Chester, PA 19022
To report fraud call: 1-800-680-7289
and write: Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92634
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Get Your Free Credit Report
The federal Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) requires each of the credit bureaus to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. For details click here.
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To Opt Out of receiving pre-screened credit card offers call:
1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567- 8688). The three major credit bureaus use the same toll-free number to let consumers choose not to receive pre-screened credit offers.
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Florida Driver Privacy Protection Act
As of Sept. 13, 1997, Florida residents have the right to protect personal information in their driver license and motor vehicle records from disclosure. A number of exceptions were specified by law; those individuals/businesses will continue to have access to the data.
Mail to:
Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles
Driver Privacy Protection Act Requests
P.O. Box 7850, Tallahassee, FL 32314-7850
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Direct Marketers
The Direct Marketing Association's (DMA) Mail, E-mail and Telephone Preference Services allow consumers to opt out of direct mail marketing, e-mail marketing and/or telemarketing solicitations from many national companies. Because your name will not be on their lists, it also means that these companies can't rent or sell your name to other companies. For more information, visit www.the-dma.org.
Direct Mail Lists
To remove your name from many national direct mail lists write:
Direct Marketing Association
P.O. Box 9008
Farmingdale, NY 11735-9014
or
Preference Service Manager
Direct Marketing Association
1120 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036-6700
Send via fax to: (212) 790-1427
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E-mail Lists
To remove your e-mail address from many national direct e-mail lists visit:
www.e-mps.org
Telephone Solicitation Lists
To avoid unwanted phone calls from many national marketers, send your name, address, and telephone number to:
DMA Telephone Preference Service
P.O. Box 9014
Farmingdale, NY 11735-9014
or
Preference Service Manager
Direct Marketing Association
1120 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036-6700
Send via fax to: (212) 790-1427
Consumer Hotline: 305-375-3677
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Telemarketers and Florida's Do Not Call List
The Florida "No Sales Solicitation" Law is designed to relieve residents of unwanted telephone solicitation contacts and ensure consumers of their right to privacy. For $10 the first year (per number) and $5 each year thereafter (per number), residents may have their residential, mobile, or pager telephone number included on the Department's "No Sales Solicitation" List which is updated four times each year. Make check payable to: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Mail to:
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
No Sales Solicitation
407 S. Calhoun Street
Mayo Building 2nd Floor
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0800
Call: 1-800-HELP-FLA (800-435-7352)
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National Do Not Call List
On Monday September 29, 2003 President George W. Bush signed legislation which had received overwhelmingly bi-partisan support in the House and Senate establishing mechanism for a National Do Not Call List to be administered by the Federal Trade Commission.
The law gives consumers the ability to have their telephone numbers placed on a list which telemarketers are not allowed to call and established a regime of penalties for violations. Click here for details.
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Privacy Notices
On July 1, 2001, the federal Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act became effective. This financial privacy law requires financial institutions (banks, credit cards, insurance companies, etc.) to notify their customers about their data sharing policies. It also requires affected companies to give their customers the right to opt out of data sharing with third parties. Contact your financial institution for information.
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