Identity Fraud is defined as "a crime in which an imposter steals key pieces of information in order to obtain credit merchandise and services in the names of the victim".  All a person needs to commit this crime is a name, social security number and birthday, all found on a persons driver's license, personal checks and unsolicited credit cards.

     According to the Better Business Bureau, identity fraud is one of the fastest growing White Collar Crimes in the nation.  Last year, an estimated 700,000 became victims of identity theft.  The perpetrators consider this a "faceless"crime since their targets are usually financial institutions or retail stores.

     If you become a victim of identity theft, below is a checklist of what to do and who to contact:

    Contact the Sheriff's Office:  Report the crime to the
    Cobb County Sheriff's Office immediately and get
    a copy o f your report.  Credit card companies, in-
    surance companies and banks may require you to
    show that a report has been filed.  (Call 770-499-
    4652 for information)

    Creditors: Contact all creditors immediately with
    whom your name has been used fraudulently.  Get
    replacement cards with new numbers for accounts
    that have been used fraudulently.  Ask that old
    accounts be processed as "closed at consumers
    request".
     
    Credit Bureaus:  Call the fraud units of the three
    major credit reporting bureaus.  They are
    Equifax--800-525-6285; Experian (formerly TRW)
    888-397-3742 and Trans Union--800-680-7289.
    Follow up with letters to each of the credit bureaus
    and have your credit reports flagged to prevent
    future fraudulent accounts.

    Social Security Number:  Your social security
    number is the main key to most electronic
    data bases with information about you.  Call the
    Social Security Administration at  1-800-772-
    1213 to report fraudulent use of your card.  In
    some cases, but only if you meet Social Security
    fraud criteria, you may be issued a card with
    new numbers.

    Drivers' License Numbers:  You may need to
    change your drivers' license number if someone
    using yours as identification  for bad checks. 
    Call the local driver's license of the Department
    of Motor Vehicles for details.

     ATM Cards:  If you ATM Card has been stolen,
     get a new card, account number and PIN
     number.  When creating a new password, do not
     use common numbers such as the last four
     digits of your social security or your birth date.
     
      Affidavits:  You may be asked by creditors to
     provide notarized affidavits supporting your
     report of identity theft or forgery.  The law
     does not require such affidavits be notarized, but
      you may want to provide them if  requested for
      your own protection.

     
    1.  Do not carry a checkbook.  Pay by cash or
          credit card.
     2.  Do not carry your Social Security card with
          you or use it as your driver's license
          number.
     3.  Buy a paper shredder.  Shred any
          documents that contain financial informa-
          tion or lists your social security number.
     4.  Mail all bills at the Post Office.  Someone
          could steal bill payments from your mail
          box and get your bank account
          information.