The increasing incidence of identity theft in our nation has left many consumers with a complicated financial mess not of their own doing. Identity theft occurs when an individual uses personal information such as the name, date of birth or the Social Security Number of another person without permission. Identity thieves use the personal information to commit fraud.

An identity thief can open a new credit card account using someone else’s personal information. When they use the credit card and don’t pay the bills, the delinquent account is reported on the victim’s credit report. A bank account can also be opened by an identify thief who can then write bad checks using someone else’s information.

With my strong support, Congress has enacted legislation to afford consumers greater protection against identity thieves. Included in this legislation is a provision which enables consumers to obtain a free credit report from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies each year. This free service recently became available to all American consumers on September 1^st. For those who take advantage of this opportunity, it provides a chance to review the credit history information provided on a credit report for accuracy and completeness and at the same time take a step in protecting themselves from identity theft.

Ordering a free credit report is a relatively simple matter. The three nationwide consumer reporting companies – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion – have set up one central website, toll-free telephone number and mailing address through which consumers may order a free annual credit report. To order a credit report, simply visit annualcreditreport.com, place a toll-free call to 1-877-322-8228, or complete an Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281. The Annual Credit Report Request Form can be found at ftc.gov/credit. The contacts are the only method by which consumers may obtain a free credit report. Beware of other sources which may sound similar, as they may levy a charge if a "free" credit report is accepted.

For more information on preventing identity theft or obtaining a free credit report, please visit the Federal Trade Commission’s website at ftc.gov.