Resources to Help You Learn About and Protect Yourself from Identity Theft

There is a new bill that is being passes, it is a very weak bill but if passed, it will prohibit using a social security number for identification purposes. This bill should take affect in 2006.

If you feel you have been a victim of identity fraud, contact the Department of Justice, consumer protection division. They offer mediation with identity theft; they also have a hot line for consumers that is available 8-5 Monday ? Friday. They maintain a database of written complaints that goes back to 1998. They offer seminars to school, seniors or your group.

Be aware that 40 million crooks obtained credit card numbers this past year, "Be Suspicious". Also be aware that most identify theft is not reported, especially when it involves family members, so the statistics are off. These statistics show that consumers lost $5 billion last year when in actuality it is closer to $50 billion. There have been an estimated 9.9 million victims in America.

U.S. Postal Inspection Service
www.usps.com/postalinspectors

Federal Trade Commission
www.consumer.gov.idtheft
877-IDTHEFT or TTY ? 202-326-2502

U.S. Secret Service
www.secretservice.gov

Department of Justice
www.usdoj.gov/criminal/fraud/idtheft

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
www.fdic.gov/consumers

Equifax
www.exuifax.com
800-525-6285

Experian
www.experian.com
888-397-3742

Trans union
www.transunion.com
800-680-7289

Social Security Administration Fraud Hotline
PO Box 17768
Baltimore, MD 21235
800-269-0271
www.socialsecurity.gov

North American Securities Agency Administrators (NASAA)
www.nasaa.org

Better Business Bureau
www.search.bbb.org/search.html

United States Postal Service
www.usps.com

National Do Not Call Registry
www.donotcall.gov
888-382-1222

Direct marketing Association Consumer Assistance
http://www.dmaconsumers.org/consumerassistance.html Registering by mail is FREE and registering online is $5.00. To remove your name from national mailing lists by mail:

Mail Preference Service
Direct Marketing Association
PO Box 643
Carmel, NY 10512

Identity Theft Resource Center
www.idtheftcenter.org
858-693-7935

International check service
800-526-5380

Telecheck
800-927-0755

Certegy Check Services
800-437-5120

Internet Fraud Complaint Center
http://www.ifccfbi.gov/index.asp

Fight Identity Theft
http://www.fightidentitytheft.com/

Michelle Dunn has over 17 years experience in credit and debt collection. She is the founder of Never Dunn Publishing, LLC, is a writer, consultant and the Editorial Advisor for Eli Financial Debt Collection Compliance Alert Newsletter. Michelle started M.A.D. Collection Agency and ran is successfully for 7 years. She owns and runs Credit & Collections.com a free online community for credit and business professionals.

She has written 5 books in her Collecting Money Series and is currently writing a book for the Streetwise Series, part of the Adams Media Corporation. For more information on Michelle's services or to order any of her books please email her at michelle@michelledunn.com or visit http://www.michelledunn.com & http://www.credit-and-collections.com

---

Saving Money - The Magic 20 Percent

Saving money is not easy and is made more difficult... Read More

Can You Afford Not To Look After Your Personal Finances?

Investing is a subject a lot of people don't want... Read More

Planning Your Financial Future

Millions of people give a lot of thought to financial... Read More

College Expenses: Seven Ways to Save on an Education

Many people graduate from college owing thousands of dollars in... Read More

I Want to Buy a Home - Now What?

If you were to ask 100 women "What would you... Read More

Bank On It: Places to Hide and Invest Money

Today I passed a thermometer at a bank that read... Read More

Resources to Help You Learn About and Protect Yourself from Identity Theft

There is a new bill that is being passes, it... Read More

The Magic Of Compound Interest

Christians are called to be good stewards of God's resources.... Read More

Budgeting the Key to being Financially Stable

Single Mother's in need of Financial GuidanceBudgeting is key to... Read More

Strategies for Success

Holy Shenanigans! More STUFF?Loosing one's business due to lack of... Read More

Succession Planning

Have you ever thought about what you are going to... Read More

Basic Bank Accounts Failing the Basic Needs of Consumers

The lists of bank and savings accounts that are available... Read More

Financial Readiness: Preparing for BRAC (Base Realignment And Closing)

The recommendations for military base closings have been released and... Read More

How To Survive The Grocery Shopping Blues

If you are the normal consumer, then you've probably experienced... Read More

Help With My Annuity

The cries are heard from the distance, "I need help... Read More

How To Free-Up 10% to 15% of Your Income

Would you be interested in freeing up 10% to 15%... Read More

Healthy Eating On A Budget

It is possible to eat a healthy, balanced diet without... Read More

Improve Your Professional Image Using Address Labels

One of the simplest ways to improve your professional image... Read More

Im Broke, How Can I Afford...

I'm still amazed every time someone comes to me complaining... Read More

7 Simple Ways To Save Money

Each of us knows how to spend money, but do... Read More

One Income Source Is Not Enough!

My personal opinion is that in today's new economy, it... Read More

The World is Not Enough - Calling for a More Ethical Approach to Personal Finance

At a time when the entire world's attention is focused... Read More

The Wonderful World Of Address Labels

Ever wonder where address labels come from? Avery® is perhaps... Read More

Identity Theft ? More Tips on How it Can Be Avoided

Recent security breaches at several credit card companies continue to... Read More

The Joys of Address Labels

Address labels are many things to many different people. If... Read More

Understanding Your Finances Can Give You Power And Choice

What is finance and what do you need to know?... Read More

Safely Save for Your Childs University Studies Using An Education IRA!

This investment retirement account (IRA) is useful to you as... Read More

Bankruptcy Laws Get Tougher - More Expensive

If you've been thinking about filing for bankruptcy, your best... Read More

Do You Really Need the Power of Money Management Software?

I have been a loyal user of Quicken(R) for more... Read More

5 Steps to Healthy Spending Habits

Next to our physical health most of us are primarily... Read More

How Electronic Checks Work ? Will Paper Checks Eventually Go Away?

Traditional checks probably won't disappear anytime soon, but processing checks... Read More

A Quck Lesson in Saving Money

Did you have a piggy bank when you were a... Read More

How to Obtain a Non ChexSystems Bank Account Without Being Scammed

Predatory lending exists in the mortgage industry. It's typically when... Read More