Local News
Texas #3 in ID theft
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According to the Consumer Sentinel Network (CSN), Texas ranks third in the nation for reported identity theft complaints per capita.
CSN’s 2009 report compiled data from Better Business Bureaus nationwide as well as Federal Trade Commission and the Internet Crime Complaint Center, among others.
The CSN rankings for states and cities are based on the amount of complaints received per 100,000 consumers.
Of 384 metropolitan areas nationwide, Austin ranked 133rd for identity theft complaints.
Most common complaint?
Credit card fraud was the most common form of reported identity theft followed by government document and benefits fraud, phone or utilities fraud and employment fraud.
The BBB offers the following tips to minimize the risk of becoming an identity theft victim:
• Don’t carry your Social Security card. Leave it at home in a safe deposit box until you need it. Your Social Security Number is considered the gateway to your identity.
• Photocopy your account cards. Keep a duplicate in case something happens and you need to know the identification numbers to freeze or close accounts.
• Never give personal information over the phone. Unless you are the one initiating the phone call, you should not give your Social Security Number, driver’s license number, bank account information, etc. over the phone.
• Steer clear of suspicious links. Unsolicited e-mails and pop-up ads can be full of computer viruses designed to steal usernames and passwords from your computer. Don’t give in to curiosity, just close or delete the message.
“More than 28,000 Texans were victims of identity theft last year,” Carrie A. Hurt, president and CEO of BBB serving Central, Coastal and Southwest Texas, said. “Consumers must continue to be mindful of what personal information they give out and who they give it to.”
For more information about preventing identity theft and to check the reliability of a company, visit http://www.bbb.org.
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