Identity Theft

According to this program, every minute of every day, someone in this country becomes a victim of identity theft (America's fastest growing white collar crime). While it's impossible to protect yourself 100%, steps can be taken to minimize one's chances of becoming the next subject for a Citibank commercial. Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information--such as a credit card or social security number--to commit a crime in your name, such as the infamous charge card buying spree or borrowing your impeccable credentials to land a job. Part of the Better Business Bureau's Consumer Education Business Series, Identity Theft reveals the myriad ways that a thief can steal identities, from obvious sources such as wallets or purses, to not so obvious avenues such as mailboxes (how many credit card offers or bank statements sit in mailboxes, unattended for hours?). Some thieves even fill out a change of address card to have someone else's mail sent directly to them! In addition, the program touches on the obvious pitfalls of incautious purchasing over the Internet (although even smart buying won't necessarily prevent your information from being sold to another company). While Identity Theft does a great job of making viewers aware of the dangers, the most useful part of the video is the series of step-by-step instructions on what to do if you are a victim. An excellent consumer education title, this is highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud: P. (J. Asala)