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I get tons of junk mail and marketing phone calls. How can I stop this?
You have a right to limit the amount of sales material that you receive through the mail, phone or e-mail. If you would like to limit the amount of material that you receive, you can write to the following addresses:
For Mail:
Mail Preference Service, c/o Direct Marketing Assn., PO Box 9008, Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008
For Phone:
Telephone Preference Service, c/o Direct Marketing Assn., PO Box 9014, Farmingdale, NY 11735-9014
For E-Mail:
www.e-mps.org
How can I find out if someone else has used my social security number without my permission?
As a rule, it is a good idea to get a copy of your credit report at least once a year. Your credit report will show what accounts have been opened with your name and social security number. You should request a report from each of the main reporting agencies. To request copies of your credit report from each agency call:
Experian 888-397-3742
Equifax 800-685-1111
Trans Union 800-916-8800
If you have not attempted to obtain credit in the last sixty days, these agencies may charge you a small fee for your credit report. However, you can also obtain a free report in a twelve month period if: 1) You are unemployed and will be seeking employment in the next sixty days; 2) You are on public welfare assistance; or 3) You suspect your report has inaccurate information due to fraud. Even if none of these situations apply, the credit-reporting agency cannot charge you more than $8 for your report. Once you get your report, look for any accounts that you have not opened and any charges that you have not authorized.
What do I do if I find out that someone is using my identity?
You should immediately contact the above agencies and ask them to place a fraud alert on your file. You should also contact the Social Security Administration's Fraud Hotline at 800-269-0271. If you are concerned that someone is using your identity, you should also contact other agencies, like the State Department of Motor Vehicles, to see if a license has been issued in your name. Finally you should file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) by contacting their Identity Theft Hotline by telephone at 877-IDTHEFT, TDD: 202-326-2502. You can also contact the FTC by mail at: Identity Theft Clearinghouse, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20580-0001. You can also complain online at www.consumer.gov/idtheft. | 
