Copyright held by The John Cooke Fraud Report. Reprint rights are granted with attribution to The John Cooke Fraud Report with a link to this website.
When the Federal Trade Commission convened a meeting of industry, consumer groups and government regulators to address the problem of identity fraud, the following suggestions were recorded:
-
Do not issue a credit report unless such a report is authorized by the consumer.
-
Consumers should be notified when their credit reports are accessed.
-
Obtain consumer identification whenever credit cards are used.
-
Develop computer programs that “red flag” possible fraud.
-
Create a standard form by which consumers can report credit card frauds.
-
Have real people examine all credit card applications and make decisions on an individual basis. This function should not be handled electronically.
-
Implement inkless fingerprint systems.
-
Educate the consumer to:
-
Not print a social security number on checks.
-
Shred any pre-approved credit applications before disposing of them.
-
Not carry excess identification (SS card, birth certificate, passport, etc.) in a purse or wallet unless absolutely necessary.
-
Not toss ATM receipts in a public trash container or leave them by the machine.
-
Keep a current list of all credit cards, account numbers and phone numbers to reach the issuer.
-
Not give out credit card information via phone unless the consumer places the call or is dealing with a trusted and known entity.
-
Order a credit report annually to check for unusual activity.
-
© Copyright 1997 Alikim Media