See these links to learn about the growing crime of Identity Theft.  Identity Theft takes many forms, but starts by someone obtaining information about your identity and using that information to steal money from your accounts, charge items to your name, or obtain fraudulent documents like a drivers license or insurance card using your identity.

Identity Theft can cost you thousands of dollars out of pocket or countless hours to restore your credit.  Identity Theft is easier to prevent than it is to correct. 

TAKE STEPS NOW TO PREVENT IDENTITY THEFT BY LEARNING MORE.

What can you do?  Easy.

            Check these links to learn how Identity Theft works.
            Watch for efforts to "pfish" and "pfarm" for your identity.
            Protect and never give out or write down your passwords
            Monitor your credit report regularly
            Go to seminars or community education sessions to learn more.
            Change what you do so you do not become a victim.
            Tell others about Identity Theft and how to prevent it.

Don't know what "pfishing" and "pharming" are?  Think I misspelled the words?  You need to learn more, like I did when I went to a seminar on Identity Theft sponsored by my good friends and bankers at Merrimack County Savings Bank.  Other banks, insurance companies and credit counseling agencies in our community are paying greater and greater attention to this growing problem, and can educate you further.                                          

Useful links: 
www.consumer.gov/idtheft  (The Federal Trade Commission is an agency of the U.S. government
www.AnnualCreditReport.com  site for exercising your right to free credit reports from credit reporting agencies
www.nclnet.org   (National Consumers League)

Credit Reporting Agencies:

            Equifax             www.equifax.com         1-800-525-6285
            Experian           www.experian.com       1-800-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
            TransUnion       www.transunion.com    1-800-680-7289