By Teresa McUsic

Identity theft seems to be declining, but it’s too early to let down your guard.

Frauds that use stolen Social Security numbers or other pilfered personal information declined more than 12 percent over the past four years, according to a recent national survey by Javelin Strategy & Research.

So, too, have the number of incidents reported by the Federal Trade Commission, which gathers its data from police reports and calls from victims to other government agencies.

But the numbers may suggest that victims are becoming more proactive in contacting agencies and nonprofits that can help them sort through the problem.

“My calls are increasing,” said Linda Foley, executive director of the Identity Theft Resource Center in San Diego.

Javelin, which conducts the nation’s most comprehensive national study on identity fraud, has reported a continuing decline in victims since 2004, when 4.25 percent of the adult population was victimized. In 2007, that number dropped to 3.58 percent, according to the report.

A similar decline occurred in total dollars lost to identity theft: down from $51 billion in 2006 to $45 billion in 2007.

Here are five strategies, based on the study’s findings, to keep from becoming an identity-theft victim:

Don’t give out financial information over the telephone (unless you’ve made the call and it’s an institution you’re familiar with) or in response to an unsolicited letter or postcard. These low-tech methods of getting access to your bank account, Social Security number or other personal finance information are up dramatically, from 3 percent in 2006 to 40 percent in 2007, according to the report.

Locally, consumers have been complaining recently about getting calls from identity thieves claiming to be the IRS wanting to send out a refund and asking for bank-account numbers.

These so-called “vishing” attempts are on the increase because costs are going down for international phone calls, thanks to Internet phones, and identity-theft call centers are popping up all around the world targeting the U.S., said James Van Dyke, president of Javelin.

Pay close attention to your cellphone bills. Wireless-phone accounts were the most frequent types of new accounts opened using ID theft, according to the report. These criminal cellphone account openings increased from 19 percent to 32 percent of new account fraud last year, exceeding fraudulently opened credit cards, loans, checking or savings accounts.

Consider a fraud alert. The Javelin report said identity victims between the ages of 18 and 24 were the most likely consumers to put fraud alerts on their credit reports, with 67 percent seeing this as an immediate first step. But you don’t have to be a victim to put a fraud alert on your credit reports, and a police report is not required, said Foley with the Identity Theft Resource Center.

Fraud alerts require that anyone looking at your report verify your identification before extending credit in your name. The alert remains on your report for 90 days but can be renewed every 90 days, Foley says. If you have been an ID-theft victim and filed a police report, the alert can be placed on your report for seven years.

A fraud alert, which has no cost, can be placed on your report easily by notifying just one of the credit bureaus, who will automatically notify the other two bureaus on your behalf.

Consider a credit-report freeze. If you have been a victim of identity theft, or have had your personal information stolen, you should consider putting freeze on your credit report, Foley said.

In recent months, all three credit bureaus offer freezes that deny access to your credit report by any business, unless they already have an established relationship with you. A report can be temporarily “thawed” if you need an employer, lender, insurer or anyone else to have access to your report. Again, no police report is required.

For Texans, a credit-report freeze on all three of your reports will cost $30.83, but it is free to those who have filed a police report. The cost to temporarily thaw your credit report ranges from zero to $12, depending on the bureau.

To put a freeze on your report, send a certified letter with proof of identity and address and $10, or a copy of the police report, to:

• Equifax Security Freeze. P.O. Box 105788, Atlanta, GA 30348
• TransUnion Fraud Victim Assistance Dept., P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834
• Experian Security Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013.

(Note: Experian requires sales tax, so send check for $10.83.)

Monitor your credit report periodically. This can be done on a rotating basis once a year with each credit bureau for no cost over the Internet, by phone or mail.

For online access, go to www.annualcreditreport.com. Be sure to type in the exact Web site name. To get your report in the mail, call toll-free 877-322-8228. You can also fill out a request form at the Web site and mail it in to Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281. Request forms can be downloaded at www.ftc.gov/credit or by calling the FTC help line at 877-382-4357 and asking for its "Your Access to Credit" brochure that includes the form.

ID-theft victims
Number of U.S. victims of identity theft

2004 9.3 million

2005 8.9 million

2006 8.4 million

2007 8.1 million

Source: Javelin Strategy & Research

Fraud Alerts
To place a fraud alert, call one of the three credit bureaus, or go to their Web sites.

Equifax: 800-525-6285, www.equifax.com

Experian: 888-397-3742, www.experian.com

TransUnion: 800-680-7289, www.transunion.com