Identity Theft Hits Record High in 2016

According to a recent study, identity theft hit a record high in the United States in 2016 with over 15.4 million U.S. victims and over $16 billion in losses. The study found that, despite efforts by U.S. businesses and federal watchdog agencies, identity thieves stole nearly $1 billion more in 2016 than in 2015 and affected 2 billion more consumers. There has also been a resurgence of existing card fraud, which has increased by approximately 40%.

With the continued rise in identity theft, it is more important than ever for Nevada consumers to take steps to protect their identity. Make sure to check your national credit reports for fraudulent accounts and/or charges on at least a yearly basis through www.annualcreditreport.com. If you discover fraudulent activity, you must obtain a police report and an FTC Identity Theft Victim's Complaint and Affidavit, which you should submit to the national credit bureaus along with personal identifying documents. You should also request a fraud alert to prevent future illegal access to your credit profiles.

The Nevada Attorney General's office also recommends taking the following precautionary actions to protect your identity: 

• Never give out personal or financial information over the phone.
• Thoroughly review all financial statements for any unusual activity. Immediately contact the company if an item looks suspicious.
• Shred or destroy credit card statements, bills, insurance papers or bank statements before throwing them out.
• Do not carry your Social Security Card in your wallet.
• If you think an identity thief is using your Social Security number, call the Social Security Fraud Hotline at (800) 269-0271. 
• Remove your name from the marketing lists of credit-reporting agencies by calling the Credit Reporting Industry opt-out phone number: (888) 567-8688.
• Be wary of anyone calling to “confirm” personal or financial information. Often, these are criminals trying to obtain those facts under the guise of “confirmation”.