bank of america number of customers

Concerned that I might become victim of Identity Theft/Fraud. How to protect? Additional details are below:?

I sent a completed application to Bank of America to open a new Brokerage Acct with a copy of my passport, copy of my driver license, my social security number, my checking acct no and bank routing number by fax. Bank of America said they have not received the faxed documents. I am really concerned that if these documents fall in wrong hand, it can misused for any purpose. I am 100% sure that the Bank received the fax since I have fax confirmation receipt. Can you please advise me on the followings?

–10 MILLION people per year are victims of Identity Theft.

–Todays growing target for criminals; are children and teens identities (SS#). Why? Because parents never think to check/protect their childrens reports.

1) run a free credit report from each agency (your allowed one free one per year, per agency). you need to know, so you need to get them.
2) Check your childrens also (check the link below as to how to)
3) if ID Theft has occurred, you need to make a police report first. the rest of what you need to do, is listed in the links below (with GREAT info too).
4) some states allow you to ‘lock’ or ‘freeze’ credit reports; to protect against theft. if your state allows it, lock ‘em down. that way, no one can open an account on them.
5) once you discover their credit reports have activity on them, then contact each credit reporting agency (the 3 major ones) and report the ID Theft… and request they lock the reports (usually they automatically do it, but ask for it anyway).

REMEMBER; you are only allowed to run credit reports on YOURSELF and YOUR MINOR CHILDREN (NO, not when they are adults).

To run a report on anyone else, they have to authorize it, and you better have proof of that authorization. If you do it without their knowledge, you are legally liable and they can not only report you to the state/federal authorities, but they may decide to sue you in a court of law.

http://www.ftc.gov/credit/

http://www.ftc.gov/privacy/index.html

http://www.ftc.gov/os/2002/05/67fr36585.pdf

“…security or integrity of such records; and
protect against unauthorized access to
or use of such records or information
that could result in substantial harm or
inconvenience to any customer.
EFFECTIVE DATE: This rule is effective on
May 23, 2003.”

‘Active Duty’ Alerts Help Protect Military
Personnel from Identity Theft

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/dutyalrt.htm

ID THEFT HELP/ INFO

http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/fraud/idtheft.html

http://www.ic3.gov/

http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/con_steps.htm

http://www.idtheftcenter.org/index.shtml

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/credit/index.html

http://www.fraudguides.com/consumer-identity-theft-children.asp

http://www.ripoffreport.com/

http://www.fightidentitytheft.com/

http://www.ncpc.org/media/current.php

https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/widtpubl$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU03

http://www.myidfix.com/

http://www.identitytheftassistance.org/index.html

http://identitytheftnow.com/

ORDERING CHILDRENS REPORTS
(yes, its free)

https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/helpfaq

ORDERING YOURS: ONLINE, PHONE, MAIL
(yes, its free)

https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/order

FAQ ABOUT CREDIT REPORTS

https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/helpfaq

FAIR DEBT COLLECTION

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/fdc.htm

STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS

http://www.fair-debt-collection.com/statue-limitations-explained.html

EACH STATES SoL

http://www.fair-debt-collection.com/statue-limitations.html

http://www.fair-credit-reporting.com/credit-laws/credit-reporting-periods.html

CAPITAL ONE

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Banking/YourCreditRating/WeirdStuffThatHurtsYourCredit.aspx?GT1=8885

Capital One refuses to report its customers’ credit limits to the three major credit bureaus. Instead, the bureaus use the highest balance a customer has charged as a proxy for the limit.

As a result, the customers’ all-important “debt utilization ratios” — the portion of their available credit these borrowers are actually using — can appear artificially high. That can depress borrowers’ credit scores, the three-digit numbers lenders use to help determine creditworthiness.

Lower credit scores can mean higher interest rates on mortgages, car loans and other borrowing, as well as potentially higher insurance premiums, since many insurers also use credit-scoring systems to help gauge risk.

CREDIT REPORT INFO / REPAIRS / DISPUTES

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre21.htm

http://www.kiplinger.com/columns/starting/archive/2007/st0221.htm

http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/cc/20040116b1.asp

https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/helpfaq

http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/forms/credit-report-error-fix.asp

http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/bankruptcy/20070313_credit_report_stains_a1.asp

http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/forms/credit-report-error-fix.txt

http://bankrate.com/

http://www.occ.treas.gov/customer.htm

TO ORDER A FREE CREDIT REPORT
(all three are free once a year)

Equifax
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374
www.equifax.com
1-800-685-1111
_______________
Experian
P.O. Box 19719
Irvine, CA 92623
www.experian.com
1-888-397-3742
_______________
TransUnion
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19022
www.transunion.com
1-800-916-8800

FIND YOUR REPS

http://www.usa.gov/

http://www.usa.gov/Agencies/State_and_Territories.shtml

http://www.nga.org

http://www.naag.org/attorneys_general.php

http://judiciary.senate.gov/

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