I'm not sure if this has been posted before, but one of the people I work with "Mark", got a call the other day about several cell phones he had supposedly ordered, the person making the order however was unable to supply several crucial details, and so the sales representative called Mark at home to confirm it. it seems he was almost a victim of identity theft, the sales rep gave him several numbers he could call to get his credit information, and much of his persoanl information blocked.

Not trusting her completely he called the Better Business Bureau, to confirm or deny the information he was given, it was legit, and so he called the numbers, and had his personal information blocked from public access (for the most part) this includes people selling credit cards, some telemarketers, etc, it also makes it so that anyone trying to look at your credit history (for loans, credit cards, etc) must call you at home to get you to release the information.

the numbers are for the three credit history places in the US (I don't know if this will be of any use to people outside the US, but hopefully other countries have something similar set up)

Equifax - 1-800-525-6285
Experian - 1-888-397-3742
Transunion - 1-800-680-7289

follow the automated menus as if you've been a victim of identity theft, and it may help prevent it for alot of people.

Thank you VERY much for posting this Morg!!! It's become one of the most 'popular' crimes in New York State and much of the US. Locally we had a guy who 'befriended' people, and when invited into their homes he got hold of their licences and social security numbers and used them to create hundreds of bogus accounts in these people's names which he then used to purchase lots of things on the internet until he was caught and prosecuted.

Identity theft is apparently big business these days.

There was a program on TV last night about an investigative journalist who 'stole' the identity of David Blunket who is the Home Secretary in the Government. Even though Blunket is blind he was able to get a driving license.

They even stole the identity of Frederick Forsythe, author of 'The Day of the Jackal'. The Jackal stole a dead childs identity in the book.