ID Theft Prevention from Telemarketing Fraudsters

Unfortunately with the Katrina disaster in New
Orleans, we're now hearing of identity thieves
calling consumers for donations from never heard of
charitable organizations.

The thieves prey on consumers who are busy and are
lead to believe the caller represents a legitimate
charitable organization such as the Red Cross. The
goal of the id theft fraudsters is to get you to
provide your credit number or social security number
during the phone call.

That information will then be combined with what they
already know about you from the phone book to open up
new accounts such as cellular phone service and retail
"instant" credit cards.

So our tip for today is simply to lower your potential
identity theft vulnerability by taking action with a
free, confidential service available from the federal
government.

The federal government has created the National Do Not
Call Registry as a free, easy way to reduce
the telemarketing calls you get at home. To register
your phone number or to get information about the
registry, visit www.donotcall.gov, or call
1-888-382-1222 from the phone number you want to
register.

You will get fewer telemarketing calls within 31 days
of registering your number. Your number will stay on
the registry for five years, until it is disconnected,
or until you take it off the registry. After five
years, you will be able to renew your registration.

Make sure, you also call from your cell phone(s) as we
understand telemarketers now have access to these
previously unlisted numbers.