9009 West Loop South, Seventh Floor, Houston Texas
1-866-889-9347		 CCCS of Lehigh Valley
A Division of Money Management International
Regional Headquarters  -  3671 Cresent Court East, Whitehall Pennslyvania
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Protect Yourself from Identity Theft
 
  Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Lehigh Valley, Inc. offers holiday travel tips.  
 
  Identity theft is a crime that occurs when someone uses your name, social security number, credit card number or other personal information without your permission. Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in America; according to a recently released Federal Trade Commission survey, 27 million Americans have been victimized within the past five years.

Unfortunately, victims of identity theft often pay a high price to regain their identity and repair the damage. In fact, 16 percent of victims said more than $5,000 was lost by businesses and individuals due to the misuse of their information (FTC, Identity Theft Survey Report, Sept. 2003). In addition, Americans spent nearly 300 million hours last year resolving problems related to identity theft.

The good news is that there are ways to help keep your information secure if you follow a few simple rules.
  • Don’t leave your wallet or statements lying around—even at home.
  • Keep track of your credit card receipts and carbons.
  • Never tell anyone your card number over the phone, unless you initiate the phone call.
  • Never allow your credit card number to be used as identification for a check.
  • Collect your mail regularly and destroy unwanted solicitations of credit.
  • Monitor your credit statements.
Even diligent consumers cannot totally protect themselves from all types identity theft. If you become a victim, time is of the essence. Acting quickly can help limit the potentially far-reaching impact.

Here are the steps to take when someone steals your identity.
  • File a police report.
  • Immediately notify issuers of credit.
  • Contact the fraud department of each of the credit reporting agencies to place a temporary 90-day Fraud Alert on your file.
  • Monitor your credit file.
  • Contact your local state Attorney General’s office, the Better Business Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission (877-IDTHEFT).
Identity theft is recognized as a serious social issue by agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Justice, the FBI and the Untied States Secret Service. For more information about protecting your good name, visit www.usdoj.gov or www.consumer.gov. 		 
 
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CCCS, A Division of Money Management International
Regional Headquarters - 3671 Cresent Court East, Whitehall Pennslyvania
Corporate Address - 9009 West Loop South, Seventh Floor, Houston, TX 77096
It’s time you discovered financial freedom through Consumer Credit Counseling Services. Call 1-866-889-9347 or start counseling online today.