Bernanke, wife hit by identity thieves

Federal Reserve Board chairman Ben Bernanke was one of hundreds of victims of an identity fraud ring that stole over $2.1 million from individuals and financial institutions, Newsweek magazine reported on Wednesday.

Apparently,  a thief stole his wife’s handbag, taking with it a family checkbook, credit cards and her identification, according to a police report and court documents. Read the full story here.

If even Bernanke and his family are vulnerable to ID theft, it’s safe to say regular folks like you and me are not immune.

But there are things you can do to protect yourself from ID theft. This what the Federal Trade Commission says:

FIGHTING BACK AGAINST IDENTITY THEFT

Identity theft is a serious crime. It occurs when your personal information is stolen and used without your knowledge to commit fraud or other crimes. Identity theft can cost you time and money. It can destroy your credit and ruin your good name.

Each year, millions of Americans have their identity stolen. The Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, wants you to have the information you need to protect yourself against identity theft. This information is summed up in the FTC’s clear and concise message on identity theft:

Deter, Detect, Defend.

DETER identity thieves by safeguarding your information

DETECT suspicious activity by routinely monitoring your financial accounts and billing statements

DEFEND against ID theft as soon as you suspect a problem

While there is no fool-proof way to avoid ID theft, there are steps you can take to minimize your chance of becoming a victim, and steps to take to minimize the damage should a theft occur.

Learn more at: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/

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