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The Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan New York defines identity theft as occurring ". . . when someone uses your name, Social Security number, credit card number or some other piece of your personal information to apply for a credit card, make unauthorized purchases, gain access to your bank accounts or obtain loans under your name."
Some people believe that identity theft is a crime that only happens to others. But are you vulnerable? To find out, take this quick quiz.
Victims of identity theft don't normally know they've been victimized until:
- They are contacted by a collection agency over past due accounts they never knew they had;
- Significant charges show up on a credit card bill for purchases they never made;
- A lender tries to repossess a car they didn't know they owned;
- They are contacted by the police after a crime is committed in their name.
Identity theft is no longer an unusual occurrence. According to a 2005 survey released jointly by the Better Business Bureau and by Javelin Strategy and Research, while identity fraud no longer seems to be increasing, 9.3 million American adults became victims of identity fraud during the past 12 months. The total U.S. annual identity fraud cost was $56.2 billion, a figure that as remained essentially unchanged since an FTC survey in September 2003.
These pages are designed to help you protect yourself from becoming a victim and give you concrete assistance if you think your identity has been stolen.
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