Congressman Doc Hastings

Washington, Nov 30, 2012 - With the holiday season upon us, Central Washingtonians are flocking to stores and websites to purchase gifts for family and friends. However, cases of identity theft can spoil the season’s goodwill.

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – which handles identity theft issues – the most common complaint from consumers in all fifty states is identity theft. In 2009, more than 6,000 Washingtonians were victims of identity theft, ranking our state 17th in the nation for this type of crime.

With many Americans still out of work and struggling to pay their monthly bills, identity theft can cause even more stress at a time when families are stretched to the limit. While some cases of identity theft are unavoidable by consumers, there are a number of things that can be done to help lower your risk of becoming a victim.

Protect your personal information by finding a safe place for your important documents, such as financial records and Social Security cards.  Also, shredding personal documents and medical information can reduce the risk of your sensitive materials being shared.

In addition, as bank statements and credit card bills arrive each month – particularly those from the holiday shopping season – it is important that you carefully monitor them for any suspicious activity. Reviewing credit reports is another important tool in detecting identity theft.  In 2003, Congress passed a law that gives all Americans access to a free credit report each year.  You can visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call 1-877-322-8228 to obtain a free copy of your credit report.

With online shopping becoming more popular each year, protecting your accounts with complex passwords can help defend your computer and financial records from consumer fraud.  In addition, the FTC recommends that you not respond to emails asking for personal information and never use a public computer, such as those at libraries, to input sensitive financial information when buying products or services online. For more information about how to protect your personal information online, visit www.onguardonline.gov.

To learn more about identity theft protection and what to do if you are a victim, I encourage you to visit www.consumer.gov or contact the Washington State Office of the Attorney General at 360-753-6200.