Don't let this happen to you:

• You get a phone call or letter telling you that you have been approved or denied credit for accounts that you never requested.
• You no longer receive your credit card statements, or you notice that some of your mail seems to be missing.
• Your credit card statement includes charges for things you know you never bought.
• A collection agency tells you they are collecting for an account you never opened.

ACTUAL ID THEFT VICTIM STORIES:

The first incident occurred about 8 years ago when someone used my info to open up a cell phone account. They also purchased about $700.00 in jewelry, some gas, and a few other things. I got this cleared up, but didn't realize at the time how bad it could get.

I am an identity theft victim living in Connecticut. My identity was stolen on July 27, 2001. That happened about 1 ½ years after my retirement.. Thus far, the monetary value of the damage done in my name and SSN is just over $203,000. I’ve identified 55 fraudulent accounts and at least 5 fraudulent checking accounts. 24 accounts have made their way to debt collection companies and there is one judgment against me. Those numbers continue to grow as each week passes.

My ex-husband and his wife have used my name and ssn to obtain credit cards and lines of credit to TWO post office boxes registered in their names. It has taken my 120+ days to get the local law enforcement to act, and then only by going directly to the DA.

The landlord I leased a commercial property from used my name and info to buy a wrecker truck. The equipment sales company let him do this. When I told the financial institution of this they told me to contact the police which I did. The financial institution still put a reposession on my credit report therefore causing me serious problems. I am still trying to get this situation cleared up after 2 years.

On 3-10-03 my bank's loss prevention dept. contacted me to question some charges they found to be out of my ordinary spending habits. Someone stole my debit card number. I denied making these charges because I had not. In the few days to follow, I learned $3000+ had been charged and these were pending.

Source: Victim's Assistamce of America
(http://victimsassistanceofamerica.org/idtheftstories/idtheft_storyindex.cfm)