Arizona is the identity-theft capital of the U.S. PART 1

Find out how to protect yourself, your family no matter where you live.

By Jennifer Mulrean

Golf and sun might attract people to Arizona, but the state is also becoming a hot spot for identity theft.

For the second year in a row, Arizona topped the Federal Trade Commission's list of states with the most identity-theft complaints, with 142.5 victims per 100,000 people in 2004. Nevada and California followed closely behind with 125.7 and 122.1 victims per 100,000 people, respectively.

Because the FTC's Consumer Sentinel database relies on consumers to report the crimes, the number of actual victims is perhaps less interesting than the year-to-year trends. And those show the same states -- Arizona, Nevada and California -- ranking highly while others like North Dakota and South Dakota sit securely at the bottom.
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Top Arizona Identity Theft Victim Locations
Victim City No. of Victims
Phoenix------------1,872
Tucson ------------973
Mesa ---------------536
Glendale-----------528
Scottsdale---------358

Based on location data for 2002.


Excerpts from Attorney General's Message.

Dear Friends,

Far too many Arizonans have been victims of identity theft. Repairing damage to your credit and reputation often requires considerable time and resources.

Most victims of identity theft don’t even know they are victims until it is too late. Government and businesses are taking steps to better protect their databases. It is one thing to prevent someone from rummaging through your mail or your trash looking for credit card receipts and statements to steal. But, it is more difficult to protect yourself when electronic databases are involved.
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The information below provides useful tips to help you reduce the risk of identity theft or to minimize the damage if the worst happens and someone has already stolen your identity.

What is identity theft?

Identity theft is when someone fraudulently uses your personal identifying information to obtain credit, take out a loan, open accounts, get identification
or numerous other things that involve pretending to be you. It is a very serious crime that can cause severe damage to your financial well-being if not taken care of promptly. People can spend months and thousands of dollars repairing the damage done to their credit history and name by an identity thief. Even scarier, some cases of identity theft are connected to more serious crimes that may lead law enforcement to suspect you of a crime you did not commit.


HOW DO THEY GET MY PERSONAL INFORMATION?

Identity thieves can obtain your personal information in a number of ways:

Finding personal information you share on the Internet;
“Dumpster diving” or going through your trash looking for personal information;

Stealing your mail;

Stealing your wallet or purse;

Stealing your debit or credit card numbers through “skimming,” using a data storage device to capture the information at an ATM or during an actual purchase;

“Phishing,” a scam in which
the identity thief sends an email falsely claiming to be from a legitimate organization, government agency or bank to lure the victim into surrendering
personal information such as a bank account number, credit card number or passwords. Often the email will send you to a phony or spoof Web site that looks just like the real business or government agency – only an expert can tell
the difference;

Obtaining your credit report through posing as your employer or landlord;

“Business record theft” involves the theft of files, hacking into electronic files or bribing an employee for access to files at a business;

Diverting your mail to another location by filling out a “change of address” form.

WHAT DO THEY WITH IT?

Drain your bank account with electronic transfers, counterfeit checks or your debit card;

Open a bank account in your name and write bad checks;

Open a credit card account that never gets paid off, affecting your credit report;

Use your name if they get arrested so it goes on your record;

Use your name for purchases involved in illegal activities, such as products for methamphetamine production or an Internet domain for a child pornography site;

Use your name to file for bankruptcy or avoid debts;

Obtain a driver’s license with your personal information;

Buy a car and use your information and credit history to get a loan;

Obtain services in your name, such as phone or Internet.

To be continued.