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February 6 - 12, 2005, has been designated National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) to highlight consumer protection and education efforts around the country. The subject of this year’s NCPW is Identity Theft: When Fact Becomes Fiction.
Your everyday transactions usually reveal bits of your personal information: your bank and credit card account numbers; your income; your Social Security number (SSN); or your
name, address, and phone numbers. An identity thief obtains some piece of your sensitive information and uses it without your knowledge to commit fraud or theft. Identity theft is a serious crime. People whose identities have been stolen can spend months or years — and their hard-earned money — cleaning up the mess the thieves have made of their good name and credit record. Some victims have lost job opportunities, been refused loans for education, housing or cars, or even been arrested for crimes they didn’t commit.
Whether you’re an adult, student, parent, teacher, or consumer advocate, we encourage you to use the resources on this site and do what you can to minimize your risk of identity theft. The site has information from federal, state and local governments, as well as national advocacy organizations. The Outreach Toolkit can help you promote NCPW in your community. Look for the Presidential Proclamation, a downloadable NCPW poster, and banner ads and buttons. |
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