Have you ever been a victim of Identity Theft?

2015-04-12T13:27:29-04:00

Identity Theft is a crime and Identity Fraud are terms used to refer to all types of crime in which someone wrongfully obtains and uses another person's personal data in some way that involves fraud or deception, typically for economic gain. Have you ever been a victim of this escalating problem and if so, what have you done about it?

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Apr 12 at 2015 1:56 PM

2015-04-12T13:56:15-04:00

Fortunately, I have not. But, I guess I have been lucky. In the past couple years, my personal data has been exposed because of hackers gaining access to two major credit cards that I carry, my health insurance carrier, and a federal government contractor (see below). In each case, I received a letter and was given free credit monitoring.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/dhs-contractor-suffers-major-computer-breach-officials-say/2014/08/06/8ed131b4-1d89-11e4-ae54-0cfe1f974f8a_story.html

DHS contractor suffers major computer breach, officials say

Officials say employees’ personal information likely taken as FBI launches investigation.

Response by Sgt David G Duchesneau made Apr 12 at 2015 3:20 PM

2015-04-12T15:20:05-04:00

To reduce or minimize the risk of becoming a victim of identity theft or fraud, there are some basic steps you can take. For starters, just remember the word "SCAM":
S Be stingy about giving out your personal information to others unless you have a reason to trust them, regardless of where you are.
C Check your financial information regularly, and look for what should be there and what shouldn't.
A Ask periodically for a copy of your credit report. You are allowed one free Credit Report a year. But you can check your credit anytime by going on http://www.creditkarma.com. It’s free and it does not go against your Credit Score.
M Maintain careful records of your banking and financial accounts.

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Nov 10 at 2016 2:07 AM

2016-11-10T02:07:26-05:00

All these are fake accounts that were created after someone hacked my Facebook page and stole my photos and are using them to create fake accounts to prey on folks sympathetic toward US Military.

Response by SPC Ellis Smith made May 16 at 2024 9:56 AM

2024-05-16T09:56:53-04:00

Yes and it’s made my life way more difficult then it has to be