Victims of identity theft can now easily file a complaint to authorities through a new feature on the Federal Trade Commission's website IdentityTheft.gov.
Edith Ramirez, chairwoman of the FTC, said that with even though millions of people in the United States have fallen victim to identity theft, there has not been a single website where these individuals can file their complaint and receive help immediately.
She said that the new tool on the IdentityTheft.gov website gives victims a better chance to fight back against the offenders.
The anti-identity theft feature allows users to access the agency's consumer complaint system online where they can file a case of identity theft and receive personalized assistance for a recovery plan.
Complainants can login to the website through their tablets or smartphones, and once there, they can make use of a wide range of user-friendly tools to create documents necessary to inform the police, credit bureaus and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) about the crime.
"Local law enforcement is often the first place identity theft victims turn for help," Mary Gavin, a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) executive committee, said.
"IdentityTheft.gov will be a powerful tool to help police assist victims, and the information victims report to the FTC can help law enforcers build cases."
According to a report by the FTC, there have been more than 490,000 complaints made by consumers regarding identity theft in 2015. This represents a 47 percent increase from numbers recorded in the previous year.
The Justice Department said that about 17.6 million people living in the United States were victimized by identity theft scams in 2014.
Identity Theft
The U.S. federal government defines identity theft as a crime in which a person illegally accesses another's personal information, such as his or her full name or social security number, in order to commit fraud.
The perpetrator can use the obtained information to file taxes, receive medical services and apply for credit through fraudulent means. This often leaves the rightful owner of the information with damaged credit status, which would require a considerable amount of time and money to restore.
Most victims of identity theft are not aware of their circumstances until they encounter a financial consequence in the form of mysterious credit collections, bills and even denied loan applications, which are often the result of actions made by the perpetrator using the victim's name.
How To Prevent Identity Theft
Here are a few simple tips on how to keep you from falling victim to identity theft:
1. Make sure that your social security number (SSN) secure. Avoid providing your SSN to individuals unless it is absolutely necessary.
2. Avoid responding to unsolicited requests for your personal information, such as your name, birthdate, SSN, or bank account number, especially if it is through phone, mail, or online .
3. Beware of "shoulder surfers" or individuals who may look over your shoulder as you enter passwords on ATMs and computers.
4. Make sure to collect your mail as soon as they are delivered. If you are going away for a while, ask the post office to place your mail on hold until you get back.
5. Keep your billing cycles in mind. If your financial statements or bills have been arriving late, contact the sender.
6. Store your personal information in a secure place whether at home or at work.
7. Keep your computer protected from illegal access by installing anti-virus software and firewalls.
8. Always use complex passwords that would prevent identity thieves from guessing them easily.
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