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Illinois has the tenth highest rate of identity theft in the United States. Out of every 100,000 residents, 93.8 people will become victims of such crime; in a recent year, more than 12,000 Illinoisans reported identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission.
Criminals are stealing Illinois addresses, birth dates, names, and especially social security numbers, and using them to damage victims' credit scores, bank accounts, and many other aspects of their lives. The IRS recently reported that tax-related identity theft is on the rise; taxpayers find out when they try to file their return that there was another returned submitted using their social security numbers, and the thieves walked away with the refund the taxpayers were counting on. Medical identity theft allows criminals to get cosmetic surgery, elective procedures, and even everyday health care. Employment identity theft lets criminals get a job - or allows criminals to sell victims' good names and backgrounds to someone else - which often goes undetected until victims check their annual Social Security Administration earnings statement and see that there has been income reported by an employer they do not recognize.
However, Illinois residents have several options available to protect themselves. Identity Theft Protection services offer customers 24-hour monitoring of their identity - social security numbers, bank accounts, credit card numbers, and so forth - and move quickly to block any suspicious activity. Many Illinois customers of such protection services appreciate knowing that such crime is more likely to be detected quickly. Another wise strategy for Illinois residents is to protect their social security number. While many businesses in Illinois routinely ask for a SSN, it is always up to the individual whether or not to give that information; any request for a SSN should be met with the question of why it is needed, how it will be used, how it will be protected by the requester, and what consequence there will be, if any, for not sharing it.
Illinoisans can protect themselves from becoming victims of identity theft by taking simple steps to protect their personal information and by making smart decisions with how that information is shared.
Identity Theft In The News
ID Sought In Credit Card Theft At Marquee Theatre In Toms River
TOMS RIVER, NJ - Toms River police are seeking the public's help in identifying a man in connection with a credit card theft that happened Feb. 8. The man, seen in video below, appears to be in ...
Published: Fri, 15 Feb 2019 09:41:00 GMT
Business identity theft costing companies millions
(NBC) - "It's really easy for an attacker to impersonate a business," said Brain Vecci, cyber security professional with Varonis. Imagine criminals taking over your company and running it as their own ...
Published: Fri, 15 Feb 2019 10:06:00 GMT
Raoul, 30 other AGs urge FTC to tighten identity theft protections
SPRINGFIELD - Thirty-one state attorneys general, including Illinois' Kwame Raoul, are advocating for tougher safeguards against identity theft in the Federal Trade Commission's rulebook.
Published: Fri, 15 Feb 2019 08:43:00 GMT
Frosh signs letter to strengthen identity theft rules
Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh (D) joined 30 other state attorneys general in a letter sent to the Federal Trade Commission Feb. 10 urging the FTC to continue its Identity Theft Rules, origi...
Published: Thu, 14 Feb 2019 21:19:00 GMT
Police blotter: Identity theft and assault charges in Stamford
A 33-year-old Mount Vernon, NY man was charged with credit card theft, larceny and conspiracy to commit credit card theft. A 55-year-old Mount Vernon, NY man was charged with burglary, larceny, credit ...
Published: Wed, 13 Feb 2019 12:21:00 GMT
General Motors Financial has partnered with blockchain company Spring Labs to help reduce identity theft. It's a move that could potentially save the car maker millions of dollars in fraud costs.
Published: Thu, 14 Feb 2019 23:17:00 GMT
Oklahoma Veteran Victim Of Identity Theft
HARRAH, Oklahoma - A 1981 Harrah High School graduate, who endured three traumatic brain injuries while serving in both Gulf Wars, is now having to deal with the demons involved in identity theft. Jam...
Published: Thu, 14 Feb 2019 19:27:00 GMT
AG urges feds to continue identity theft rules
Attorney General Kwame Raoul has joined a coalition of 30 other attorneys general in sending a letter to the Federal Trade Commission urging it to continue its Identity Theft rules originally adopted ...
Published: Thu, 14 Feb 2019 08:00:00 GMT
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