One out of every 30 Americans becomes a victim of identity theft annually. This fast-paced, ultra-practical program will teach viewers how to safeguard themselves, as well as what to do if they become victims. Comments from law enforcement and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) officials are interwoven with interviews of identity theft victims and dramatized vignettes illustrating the many different ways that identity theft can occur (actually, the biggest risk factor lies in someone finding out your Social Security number). Viewers will learn preventive measures to help avoid or detect identity theft, ranging from checking credit reports, to taking steps towards reducing direct mail, telemarketing, and prescreened credit offers, as well as Internet-specific strategies. Help! They Stole My Name! stresses the fact that identity theft victims must act immediately, and walks viewers through the steps of filing a police report, obtaining an affidavit from the FTC, and contacting the three major credit bureaus (with all pertinent addresses, phone numbers, and URLs appearing onscreen). Thankfully, the program's tone is very matter-of-fact, encouraging vigilance rather than paranoia. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (E. Gieschen)
Help! They Stole My Name!
(2007) 29 min. DVD or VHS: $99 (teacher’s guide included). Learning Seed. PPR. Closed captioned. ISBN: 1-55740-840-8 (dvd), 1-55740-841-6 (vhs). Volume 23, Issue 6
Help! They Stole My Name!
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