Subject: American Community Security Update for January 18, 2002

We use this service to provide you the most up-to-date safety 
and security related information we have available.  We will 
continue to do so, sending out messages as soon as new 
information becomes available.

In addition to sharing security-related information, we will 
continue to include news and information about our American 
Citizens Services of a more general nature.

This week's feature is on protecting yourself against identity 
fraud, an increasingly common danger as more and more 
information is made available on line and in the course of our 
daily lives.

Also, please note that the Embassy will be closed on January 21 
for Martin Luther King Day, a U.S. Federal holiday.

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Security Situation
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The security situation in Japan remains the same with no new 
threat information reported from either the American or the 
Japanese side.

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Protecting Yourself Against ID Fraud
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The 1990's spawned a new variety of crook called an "identity 
thief."  Their stock in trade are your everyday transactions. 
Each transaction requires you to share personal information: 
your bank and credit card account numbers; your income; your 
Social Security number; and your name, address and phone 
numbers.

We at the Embassy have dealt with two (unrelated) cases of 
identity theft already this year.  One involved the fraudulent 
use of an American's credit card in the U.S. (for $11,000) and 
the other the misuse of an American's passport in Japan.

An identity thief co-opts some piece of your personal 
information and appropriates it without your knowledge to commit 
fraud or theft. An all-too-common example is when an identity 
thief uses your personal information to open a credit card 
account in your name.

Can you completely prevent identity theft from occurring? 
Probably not, especially if someone is determined to commit the 
crime. But you can minimize your risk by managing your personal 
information wisely, cautiously and with heightened sensitivity. 

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Best Source of Information
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The best single source of information on identity theft is 
published by the Federal Trade Commission, and is available at 

     http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/idtheft.pdf

          or at 

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

The pamphlet discusses things like how to learn if you have been 
a victim, how to minimize risk, first steps if your identity is 
stolen, online resources and dealing with creditors.

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Online Resources
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There are a number of online resources you can consult to 
protect yourself.  We've included non-800 numbers when 
available.

If your email reader does not display the web addresses below as 
"clickable links", you can find all of these links on our web 
page at http://www.tokyoacs.com.  Look under the "Safety and 
Security" heading for a link to our page titled "Protecting 
Yourself Against ID Fraud."

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Federal Trade Commission (FTC)  http://www.ftc.gov
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The FTC is the federal clearinghouse for complaints by victims 
of identity theft. Although the FTC does not have the authority 
to bring criminal cases, the Commission helps victims of 
identity theft by providing them with information to help 
resolve the financial and other problems that can result from 
identity theft. The FTC also may refer victim complaints to 
other appropriate government agencies and private organizations 
for action.

If you've been a victim of identity theft, file a complaint with 
the FTC by contacting the FTC's Identity Theft Hotline by 
telephone: toll-free 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338); by mail: Identity 
Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania 
Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580; or online: 
http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft

FTC publications:

     Avoiding Credit and Charge Card Fraud
     http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/cards.htm

     Credit and ATM Cards: What to Do If They're Lost or Stolen
     http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/atmcard.htm

     Credit Card Loss Protection Offers: They're The Real Steal
     http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/lossalrt.htm

     Getting Purse-onal: What To Do If Your Wallet or Purse Is 
Stolen
     http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/getpurse.htm

     How to Dispute Credit Report Errors
     http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/crdtdis.htm

     Identity Crisis... What to Do If Your Identity Is Stolen
     http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/idenalrt.htm

     Identity Thieves Can Ruin Your Good Name: Tips for Avoiding 
Identity Theft
     
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/identity/index.html

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Social Security Administration (SSA)  http://www.ssa.gov
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SSA may assign you a new SSN - at your request - if you continue 
to experience problems even after trying to resolve the problems 
resulting from identity theft. SSA field office employees work 
closely with victims of identity theft and third parties to 
collect the evidence needed to assign a new SSN in these cases.

The SSA Office of the Inspector General (SSA/OIG) is one of the 
federal law enforcement agencies that investigates cases of 
identity theft.  Direct allegations that an SSN has been stolen 
or misused to the SSA Fraud Hotline at 1-800- 269-0271; by fax: 
410-597-0118; or write to SSA Fraud Hotline, P.O. Box 17768, 
Baltimore, MD 21235; or e-mail atoig.hotline@ssa.gov

SSA publications include:

     SSA Fraud Hotline for Reporting Fraud
     http://www.ssa.gov/oig/guidelin.htm 

     Social Security When Someone Misuses Your Number
     http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10064.html

     Social Security: Your Number and Card
     http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10002.html

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Credit Bureaus
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You may need to contact the three major credit bureaus, first to 
obtain a copy of your credit report and then again to correct or 
amend that report to account for the damage done by the identity 
thief.

Equifax
     http://www.equifax.com
     To order your report, call: 1-800-685-1111 or write: P.O. 
Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241

     To report fraud, call: 1-800-525-6285, or write: P.O. Box 
740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241.

Experian
     http://www.experian.com
     To order your report, call: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742) or 
write: P.O. Box 2104, Allen TX 75013

     To report fraud, call: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742) or write: 
P.O. Box 9532, Allen TX 75013.

Transunion
     http://www.transunion.com
     To order your report, call: 800-916-8800 or write: P.O. Box 
1000, Chester, PA 19022.

     To report fraud, call: 1-800-680-7289 or write: Fraud 
Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92634.

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Banking Agencies
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If you're having trouble getting your financial institution to 
help you resolve your banking-related identity theft problems 
including problems with bank-issued credit cards contact the 
agency with the appropriate jurisdiction. If you're not sure 
which agency has jurisdiction over your institution, call your 
bank or visit http://www.ffiec.gov/nic/default.htm

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Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)  
http://www.fdic.gov
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The FDIC supervises state-chartered banks that are not members 
of the Federal Reserve System and insures deposits at banks and 
savings and loans.  Call the FDIC Consumer Call Center at 1-800-
934-3342, or write Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 
Division of Compliance and Consumer Affairs, 550 17th Street, 
NW, Washington, DC 20429.

FDIC publications:

     Classic Cons and How to Counter Them
     
http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/news/cnsprg98/cons.html

     Pretext Calling and Identity Theft
     
http://www.fdic.gov/regulations/resources/fraud/Pretext.html

     Your Wallet: A Loser's Manual
     
http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/news/cnfall97/wallet.html

     A Crook Has Drained Your Account. Who Pays?
     
http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/news/cnsprg98/crook.html

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Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC)  
http://www.occ.treas.gov
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The OCC charters and supervises national banks. If the word 
"national" appears in the name of a bank, or the initials "N.A." 
follow its name, the OCC oversees its operations.

Call 1-800-613-6743 (business days 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. CST), 
FAX 713-336-4301 or write to Customer Assistance Group, 1301 
McKinney Street, Suite 3710, Houston, TX 77010.

OCC publications:

     Check Fraud: A Guide to Avoiding Losses
     http://www.occ.treas.gov/chckfrd/idassume.htm

     Identity heft and Pretext Calling Advisory Letter
     http://www.occ.treas.gov/ftp/advisory/2001-4.doc

     How to Avoid Becoming a Victim of Identity Theft.
     http://www.occ.treas.gov/idtheft.pdf

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Department of Justice (DOJ)  http://www.usdoj.gov
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The DOJ and its U.S. Attorneys prosecute federal identity theft 
cases.  Information on identity theft is available at 
http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/fraud/idtheft.html

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Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  http://www.fbi.gov
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The FBI is one of the federal criminal law enforcement agencies 
that investigates cases of identity theft. Please take a look at 
the FBI publication:

     Protecting Yourself Against Identity Fraud
     http://www.fbi.gov/contact/fo/norfolk/1999/ident.htm

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U. S. Trustee (UST)  http://www.usdoj.gov/ust
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If you believe someone has filed for bankruptcy using your name, 
write to the U.S. Trustee in the region where the bankruptcy was 
filed. A list of the U.S. Trustee's Regional Offices is 
available on the UST web site. Your letter should describe the 
situation and provide proof of your identity. The U.S. Trustee, 
if appropriate, will make a criminal referral to criminal law 
enforcement authorities if you provide appropriate documentation 
to substantiate your claim. You also may want to file a 
complaint with the U.S. Attorney and/or the FBI in the city 
where the bankruptcy was filed.