Resources

With identity theft being the hot topic that it is, there are plenty of resources for people interested in getting more information or wanting to report a case. The list of available resources covers the entire spectrum. There are web sites, both government and private, that offer advice, hints, and tips about identity theft. There are books galore covering the topic.

Banks and other financial institutions also seem eager to educate their account holders on the subject. There are any number of private security firms that devote much of their talent and expertise to battling identity theft. Also, a growing number of company information technology departments (IT) are now working to deter such crimes and can be a solid resource for employees.

Government

By far, the most extensive resources available to consumers concerning identity theft can be found on the internet. Several government agencies maintain web sites and man consumer hotlines on the crime. In particular, web sites run by the United States Department of Justice (DoJ), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Postal Inspection Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) all have sections devoted to identity theft.

Of these, the FTC site might contain the most information. If it does not have what someone is looking for, it does have links to just about any other useful site on the net. Included on this site is a form that can be used for reporting a case of identity theft. This can be very helpful in starting the process of reclaiming your identity. Other common resources these sites have are advice for discovering if someone is using your name illegally and the various steps to take for correcting the problem.

Private Sector

If there is a strong government presence covering identity theft, there are more extensive resources available from private businesses. Companies who sell computer security software, such as Symantec and McAfee, are more than willing to educate the public about the problem of identity theft, as well as sell their products. While those are the two most recognized names in security, there are many others. Still, a word of caution here, some web sites and email offers for protection against identity theft really are scams aimed at stealing personal data.