Deter • Detect • Defend
Fighting Back Against Identity Theft

To address growing concerns about identity theft, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has developed a one-stop national resource to learn about the crime of identity theft. It provides detailed information to help you Deter, Detect, and Defend against identity theft. While there are no guarantees about avoiding identity theft, there are steps you can take to minimize your risk and minimize the damage if a problem occurs:

• 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.

This site is a comprehensive reference center—for consumers, businesses, law enforcement, and the media—with access to specific laws, contact information, and resources from state and federal government agencies.

The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System also maintains an identity theft website with links to other governmental resources on identity theft.