Retiring Chicago Special Agent in Charge Thomas Kneir, on what it's been like working for the FBI: "To say it's been interesting would be a huge understatement. You kind of get thrown into the middle of history."
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DON’T
LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU!
How to Protect Your Good Name from Identity Theft
Are collection agencies
suddenly demanding payment for items you’ve never bought? Have you
stopped getting your credit card and bank statements in the mail? Are stores
refusing your checks, claiming you have a history of bouncing them, even
though you don’t?
You may be a victim
of identity theft.
Identity theft is one
of the fastest growing crimes in the U.S., claiming more than 10 million
victims a year. The FBI is working with its partners--private sector companies,
regulatory agencies, and other law enforcement organizations--to curb identity
fraud (see Monday’s story).
But you can help us--and more importantly, help yourself--by taking some
basic preventative
steps.
Some “do’s” and “don’t’s”:
DO:
- Order a copy of your credit report each year from one of the national
credit bureaus and review it closely for any questionable entries;
- Shred or cut up all credit card receipts and old bank statements and
bills before throwing them away;
- Close all unused credit card or bank accounts;
- Remove your name from mailing lists for pre-approved credit lines and
telemarketers;
- Keep your PIN number hidden when you use an ATM or public telephone;
- Contact your creditor or service provider if you notice odd charges
or if expected bills don’t arrive;
- Update your computer virus software, use a secure browser, and
install a firewall program.
DON’T:
- Give out personal information via the phone, mail, or Internet unless
YOU initiated contact;
- Carry information like your Social Security Number (SSN) or any PIN
numbers or passwords in your purse or wallet;
- Put your SSN on your checks or other identifiers.
If your identity HAS
been stolen, we urge you to take immediate action:
- Place a fraud
alert on your credit file by notifying one of the national credit bureaus;
- Contact all creditors
and financial institutions that an identity thief may have used to conduct
transactions in your name and close
all tampered accounts;
- Contact your local
police department, as well as your local FBI field office, and file a
report;
- File a complaint
with the Federal
Trade Commission (the FBI and other law enforcement agencies
use these complaints in their investigations). Online identity
thefts may
also be reported to the Internet
Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
A Final Message: BE
AWARE and manage your personal information carefully!
Links: FBI
Tips to Avoid Impersonation/Identity Fraud | DOJ’s Identity
Theft and Fraud website
Recent Stories
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Announcements
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On 10/21, a Texas man is charges in connection with an attack on El Paso mosque. |
On
10/19, six charged in Chicago in fraudulent
document case. |
On
10/19, 19 members of New Jersey's largest, oldest "Bloods"
street gang charged in racketeering indictment. |
On
10/19, two Virginia men sentenced for hate
crime at historically African-American church. |
On
10/14, increased reward
offered for info re: 2003 ricin-laced threat letters in South
Carolina and Tennessee. See also Reward
Poster (pdf).
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On
10/15, naturalized U.S. citizen sentenced in Virginia in terrorism
financing case. |
On
10/14, lawyer found guilty in San Francisco of stealing/misusing
more than $2 million in clients' settlement funds. |
On
10/14, Knoxville resident arrested for attempt to use
explosives to damage a building. |
On
10/13, federal authorities arrested an Iowa man for sending
e-mail threats to a national Arab-American leader. |
On
10/13, German company Bayer AG agrees to plead guilty in price-fixing
conspiracy. |
On 10/8, Nashville
resident arrested by Joint Terrorism Task Force on weapons
charges. |
On
10/7, superceding indictment in Florida charges
two men in terrorism conspiracy.
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On
10/7, FBI exec testifies before Congress on the Bureau's
efforts to combat mortgage fraud.
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On
10/6, British resident indicted in Connecticut on charges
of providing
material support to terrorists.
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On
10/6, FBI exec takes "opposing view" on Bureau
translation capabilities in USA Today debate. |
The
FBI and the Jamestown, NY, PD need your help in locating
a missing woman and are offering a reward for useful information. |
PREVENTING
TERRORIST ATTACK:
How You Can Help |
New E-Scams and Warnings |
Responding to Your Concerns:
- Can the FBI
look at your library records any time they want?
- FBI
interviews at Special Events
- Checks and Balances
on the FBI
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