KNOW FRAUD

Kicks off Anti-Identity Theft Campaign on July 10

Following the success of the initial KNOW FRAUDTM campaign in 1999, the KNOW FRAUD partnership is gearing up for a second campaign focusing on identity theft, a growing crime in which thieves illegally obtain a consumer's personal and financial information to purchase goods and services.

For example, a thief can use a consumer's name, date of birth, and Social Security number to open a credit card account, change the mailing address on a credit card account, establish cellular phone service, or open a bank account to write bad checks.

KNOW FRAUD partners, including the Postal Service, Department of Justice, Federal Trade Commission, and Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, are working with financial organizations to spread the identity theft message in billing statements and other customer contact methods to as many U.S. homes as possible.

This campaign will begin with a national kick-off on July 10. To learn more about the KNOW FRAUD campaign, visit www.consumer.gov/knowfraud. To ensure that Postal Service customers in your area receive the fraud prevention message, you may choose to advise your financial institution contacts of the upcoming campaign and direct them to the KNOW FRAUD Web site.

For information on how you or any financial institutions may support KNOW FRAUD, contact Postal Inspector Bob Kuykendall at rdkuykendall@usps.gov.

-Inspection Service