Attorney General unveils new Identity Theft Repair Kit
September 25, 2008 -- In an effort to assist Kansans faced with identity theft, Attorney General Steve Six created the Kansas Identity Theft Repair Kit. It is an educational brochure aimed at preventing and repairing damage caused by identity thieves.
"Identity theft is crippling to its victims, both financially and emotionally," Six said. "This new repair kit gives consumers prevention tips, as well as a road map for minimizing damage to their identity and credit."
The Identity Theft Repair Kit offers consumers who are victims of identity theft a step-by-step guide to repairing their credit. It also reviews a consumer's rights and liability under Kansas and federal laws and offers tips for protecting personal information in the future.
"It is always important to educate consumers about fraudulent schemes and provide them with the tools needed to combat fraud," Six said. "Once a citizen is victimized, we must do everything we can to help Kansans recover from identity theft and repair their credit history and identity."
The new brochure also describes the signs of identity theft and provides tips to combat fraud.
Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the United States. It occurs when someone steals personal information and uses it to commit financial fraud or other crimes. Personal information includes someone's name, address, driver's license number, Social Security number, mother's maiden name, birth date, bank account, credit card, or PIN number.
Since taking office, Six has focused on improving consumer protections in Kansas and increase consumer education. The Identity Theft Repair Kit is the latest in this effort to protect Kansas consumers and help them recover from victimization.
If a Kansan believes they are the victim of identity theft, they should immediately contact their local police department to file a police report. This will document the crime and help in the recovery process. Kansans should also contact the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division online at http://www.ksag.org/ or by phone at 1(800) 432-2310.
