Identity Theft Poses a Real Problem for Consumers

By Al Lenhardt, National Crime Prevention Council President and CEO

Identity theft is in the news every day, whether it's someone arrested for stealing Social Security numbers and obtaining credit cards or institutions losing account information, thus exposing customers to the possibility of identity theft.

Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States. Most of us do not realize how often our everyday actions put us at risk for identity theft. The numbers are staggering and enough to cause concern and fear for any individual.  However, we cannot let fear immobilize us.  The National Crime Prevention Council wants to empower the public to take preventive measures to lessen the devastation of this very serious crime.  We believe prevention is the best tool we have to fight identity theft.

The Council has been busy with the premiere of the new identity theft prevention television PSAs.  The PSAs premiered on June 13, 2005, at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) prestigious event, Service to America.  It was the first time ever that the NAB provided this platform to launch a PSA campaign.

With the release of these three new (PSAs), the Council places prevention at the forefront in the fight against identity theft.  The PSAs feature our beloved icon, McGruff the Crime Dog® showing viewers how identity thieves obtain personal information and what practical steps to take to protect critical information. In the fall of this year, the Council will add to the initiative by providing radio PSAs.  A free brochure on how to prevent identity theft and other resources are available at www.weprevent.org.

These new public service announcements symbolize the commitment of the National Crime Prevention Council by showing that each individual can take action to help "Take A Bite Out of Crime." Be sure to take advantage of the National Crime Prevention Council resources to help educate your constituents.  Visit www.ncpc.org for information, brochures, and other resources.  Also, let folks know that there are a myriad of ways to avoid identity theft including putting mail on hold when out of town, paying bills online through secure sites, and dropping mail off only at U.S. Postal Service mailboxes. Additionally, victims of identity theft can call the Identity Theft Toll-Free Hotline established by the Federal Trade Commission. The number is 877-IDTHEFT, and provides a central place for identity theft victims to report their problems and receive helpful information. Remember that prevention is the best tool we have to fight identity theft.