The Bureau of Consumer Protection would like to make consumers aware of an offer targeting identity theft victims.
The company doing the offering is called USA Security Stamp Company , and their “consumer alert” letter claims that they are willing to replace the victims’ SSN with a patented anti-fraud number on all of their documents.
In return, the company asks for a sum of money to be sent in advance. Consumers should be aware that no government agency or legitimate company will ever ask consumers for money up front to cover a loss or claim. The Identity Theft Assistance Center , a group working under the DOJ’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), has issued a warning about USA Security Stamp Company.
The USPIS also warns consumers to be wary of similar offers. While this company’s offer may sound helpful, consumers are advised to avoid it because even if the stamps are real, they could be used by someone other than the rightful owner. Some victims mistakenly believe that buying these stamps would be helpful, but they do not offer any protection from further financial losses.
If you have been a victim of identity theft and believe that a company is taking advantage of your loss, contact the Bureau of Consumer Protection or call 1-800-382-1222.
In addition to contacting IC3 with complaints about fraudulent offers such as those from USA Security Stamp Company , consumers should also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Complaints about identity theft, imposter scams and similar issues can be filed on the FTC’s web site or by calling their toll-free number, 1(877) FTC-HELP .
The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel , which is available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
Is This For Real?
No, the Identity Theft Stamp is not real. The company that claims to sell it is not associated with any government agency or legitimate company. The only anti-fraud number available to consumers who have been victims of identity theft is the one assigned by the credit reporting agencies . This number may be used to contact those companies when checking on an account or reviewing your credit report.
A Real-Looking Scam:
The Identity Theft Stamp is a real-looking product that is likely to convince people they are dealing with a legitimate company, but it’s only part of a larger scam that is designed to steal money from victims. Responding to offers like this can result in identity thieves receiving personal information that they use to take over bank accounts, apply for credit cards and otherwise run up huge bills in the victim’s name.
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A Real Offer From The Ftc:
While the Identity Theft Stamp is not real, there is a real offer from the FTC to help identity theft victims. If you have been a victim of identity theft, you can get free copies of your credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies.
The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them.
To file a complaint or get free information on consumer issues, visit www.ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) , the Bureau of Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC 20580.
The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel , a secure online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
If you think you’ve been a victim of identity theft, contact your local police and get a copy of the report. Then file a complaint with:
* Federal Trade Commission: via their online form at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov or 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338);
* Identity Theft Clearinghouse: P.O. Box 40940, San Antonio, TX 78265; and
* Your local police or county sheriff’s office – ask for a copy of the initial crime report to give to creditors as proof of the crime.
The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) ‘s section on identity theft requires that your credit reporting companies give you access to your file at no charge. You are entitled to a free file disclosure every 12 months from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting agencies. If you suspect or know that you are a victim of identity theft, however, you can request an Identity Theft Report at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov and receive all three reports at once.