FIGHTING IDENTITY THEFT New Initiative To Protect Consumers Underway
Reported by: Bob Aaron
Videographer: Matt Durrett, John Tincher
Web Producer: Bob Aaron
Reported: Oct. 22, 2012 5:25 PM EDT
Updated: Oct. 22, 2012 5:42 PM EDT
EYEWITNESS ONLINE WEBCAST VIDEO C L I C K T O P L A Y
Charleston
, Kanawha County
, West Virginia
There's a new effort to help you deal with identity theft in West Virginia. It's called the identity Theft Resource Center. It can help, but I-D theft victim Pamela Smith says it's still not easy. " Another thing that I've learned is that it can take, in our case, years to get your credit cleared up."
Even with help from the attorney general's office, clearing up her credit was a nightmare for Smith after the Delbarton woman and her husband had their identity stolen. Their credit was wiped out by a relative who got a her husband's social security number and then a dozen credit cards.
The attorney general's office has now set up the Identify Theft Resource Center to help fight back and help others avoid the rip-off.The office will help the victims find the tools they need to report the crime and to restore their credit. Even with help, that can take months of heavy lifting. A new pamphlet offers 18 tips to avoid I-D theft. Computer use has upped risks to your privacy.
Attorney general Darrell McGraw said;" The first line of defense is reviewing your own records to see whether or not you've been victimized. "You can contact the I-D Theft Resource Center at 800-368-8808.
Smith described her experience: " It's very scary. At the time I was completely unaware how easy it was for someone to get--to steal-- your identity. ".
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Bob Aaron
