Armed with a computer, a name, a social security number, and a person's credit history, today's thieves can steal without ever leaving the comfort of their homes.  Identity theft or fraud, the taking of a victim's identity to obtain credit, apply for loans, rent an apartment, file bankruptcy, or obtain a job using the victim's name, is the fastest-growing crime in America, affecting almost half a million new victims each year.

Violations of the Act are investigated by federal agencies such as the U.S. Secret Service, the FBI, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and prosecuted by the Department of Justice.

HOW DO THEY DO IT?

Enterprising criminals can gather remarkable amounts of information about a victim through the debris of everyday electronic transactions.  They can use this information to gain access to all of the victim's financial information.  The most common way thieves get information is by stealing a victim's wallet.  However, other ways include looking over a victim's shoulder at an ATM or phone booth to capture a PIN, stealing from a victim's mailbox, digging through discarded trash, or fraudulently ordering a copy of the victim's credit report.  Shredding all important papers with bank account numbers is a prevention worth taking.

Some of these techniques have been supplanted by more technologically savvy methods.  Perpetrators use telemarketing scams to trick consumers into revealing personal information.  People misrepresent themselves as law enforcement agents, social workers, or other authority figures to obtain the private data of others from banks and other financial institutions.  Some individuals even go online to purchase fake IDs, including birth certificates, driver's licenses, and Social Security cards. In the most advanced cases, hackers penetrate corporation's databases and download credit card numbers and other information.

PREVENTION STRATEGIES

To prevent becoming an identity theft victim, people need to:

• Keep personal information private

• Check financial information regularly

• Obtain a copy of a credit report annually

• Maintain careful records of banking and financial accounts

Those who have become victims if identity theft should:

• Contact the three major credit reporting agencies (Equifax, 800-685-111: Experian, 888-397-3742: TransUnion, 800-680-7293) as soon as they are aware there is a problem.  In fact, it is a good idea to check credit records once a year to make sure all the information is correct.

• Contact creditors of any accounts that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.

• File a report with local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place.  You should be sure to keep a copy of the police report.

To report identity theft, contact the Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Response Center, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20580, or call 877-382-4357, or visit www.consumer.gov/idtheft .

For consumer-oriented information, contact Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, 1717 Kettner Avenue, Suite 105, San Diego, CA 92101: or visit www.privacyrights.org .