Web Resources
Federal
Federal Trade
Commission 
Identity
Theft
The Federal Trade Commission calls this site "the U.S. government's central web site for information about identity theft." The site offers information such as how to minimize your risk of identity theft, what to do if you are a victim, and how to file a complaint. Links to other web sites, as well as online publications on identity theft, are also provided. An excellent resource.
Social Security Administration 
Identity
Theft
This page on the Social Security Administration web site contains brief information on what the agency does to help victims of identity theft. It includes a toll-free number for the SSA's Fraud Hotline (1-800-269-0271) and the FTC's ID Theft Hotline (1-877-IDTHEFT). The page also provides links where you can download publications regarding Social Security Numbers and identity theft: "When Someone Misuses Your Number" and "Social Security-Your Number and Card," as well as the FTC publication "ID Theft: When Bad Things Happen to Your Good Name."
U.S. Postal Inspection Service 
Identity
Theft
This page gives brief information regarding the involvement of postal inspectors in the investigation of identity theft complaints. An online form is also provided to file a complaint about mail fraud. Be sure to click on the link "Our Privacy Policy" on the left side of the "Identity Theft" page and read the 18 conditions under which the USPIS might disclose the personal information requested from you on the mail fraud complaint form.
U.S. Department of Justice 
Identity Theft and
Fraud
Although this Department of Justice web site has not been updated since June of 2000, individuals will find useful information here. Clear explanations are given on what identity theft is, the most common ways it is committed, and what a person can do to avoid becoming a victim. Information is also provided on steps to take if you are a victim, as well as links to other government and non-government agencies for more information.
U.S. Department of the Treasury 
The
National Summit on Identity Theft
Held in Washington, D.C., on March 15 and 16, 2000, the National Summit on Identity Theft "was designed to highlight areas where the public and private sectors can work together to address identity theft." An executive summary is provided, along with summaries of the five panel discussions on topics such as "Victims of Identity Theft" and "Remediation: Private Sector Programs to Assist Victims." The information on this site is not substantial, but it gives the public a sense of what the government is doing about this growing problem and some of the resources and recourses available to victims.
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 
Privacy
Choices for Your Personal Financial Information
Extremely useful information is provided here on what financial institutions can and cannot disclose about your personal financial information, and to whom they can disclose it. Explanations of affiliate and non-affiliate companies are given, along with when and why institutions may share information with them. Also provided is information on your right to opt out of this information sharing (up to a point), as well as contact information for agencies that oversee different types of companies that you can contact if you have questions about your privacy rights in dealing with a financial company. **Also given is a toll-free number to opt out of receiving all those unsolicited offers of credit or insurance that come in the mail.** (Be forewarned, however: I once called a number such as this and was asked to type my Social Security Number into the phone in order to proceed. I hung up.)
Federal Bureau of Investigation 
Protecting
Yourself Against Identity Fraud
Much of the information on this page can be found on other sites, such as the definition of identity theft (although this page calls it identity "fraud") and how thieves obtain information used to steal someone's identity. Twelve ways people can reduce their chances of becoming a victim are given, along with the legal repercussions for perpetrating the crime. Interestingly, although the first line on the page calls identity fraud "one of the fastest growing White Collar Crimes in the nation," the page has not been updated since 1999.
U.S. Department of the Treasury
U.S.
Secret Service Frequently Asked Questions About Fraud
Under the subheading "Protecting Yourself," the Secret Service answers some common questions regarding fraud, most of which relates to potential identity theft issues. Information includes tips on how to protect yourself against credit card fraud, check fraud, and telemarketing fraud, and what to do if you have been a victim of credit card fraud or identity theft. Note that sometimes the URL for this page will give you a message that the server has been instructed not to give you the page. If this happens, go to the Secret Service home page and choose the FAQs link on the right.
State
Wisconsin Department of Justice 
Protect Personal
Information
Part of the Wisconsin Department of Justice site, this page lists a few of the ways identity thieves can steal your personal information and take over your identity. Also given is a list of ways to protect yourself from this crime. The list is much shorter than those given on some of the federal sites, but since users from Wisconsin are likely to seek recourse using state resources, this page is important for inclusion here.
Riding the
Internet and Your Privacy
Another page from the Wisconsin Department of Justice site--from the Office of Consumer Protection--this page is a caution to consumers against revealing personal information online. Some suggestions given include not giving out personal information to unknown companies or "e-mail pals," and watching what your children are doing when using the Internet. At first glance, everything seems common sense--and it is. It's amazing that many people don't follow these simple guidelines.
State of Wisconsin 
Wisconsin
Citizen Portal Privacy Notice
An example of a web site's privacy notice for site users, this one comes from Wisconsin.gov, the portal for Wisconsin government information. Find out what information is collected from site visitors and how it is used, the policy on collection of personal information, public disclosure of information gathered, and access and correction of personal information. The scariest statement on this page? "Users are cautioned that the collection of personal information requested from or volunteered by children on-line or by email will be treated the same as information given by an adult and may be subject to public access."
Wisconsin Policy Library
University of Wisconsin Madison
Privacy
Housed on the Wisconsin Policy Library web site, the Privacy pages
provide links to privacy issues in three areas: consumer privacy, medical
privacy, and general privacy. The links are divided into four different
areas: Wisconsin, Other States, Federal, and Background and Viewpoints.
Some of the links included in these pages can be found elsewhere in my
site, but there are many others as well, such as Consumer
Protection, Fraud, and Privacy, a 1999 "annotated bibliography from
Theobald Legislative Library." You will find the Privacy pages a good
reference for both government and private resources. (Note: If the link
given above does not work, go to http://portal.lafollette.wisc.edu/
and click on the Privacy link on the left.)
Office of Privacy Protection, State of California 
Identity
Theft
According to this web site, maintained by California's Office of Privacy Protection, the cost of identity theft each year was estimated by the Secret Service as $745 million in 1997. The information provided on this site is intended to help consumers lower their risk of becoming a victim of this crime, and to help them if they are a victim. Links to publications are provided, including "Identity Theft Prevention Tips," "Identity Theft Victim Check List," and "Identity Theft: What to Do When It Happens to You." Also provided are links to information by the Federal Trade Commission ("When Bad Things Happen to Your Good Name," and the "Identity Theft Affidavit"), the Identity Theft Resource Center ("Organizing Your Identity Theft Case"), and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service ("Identity Theft"). This site also provides links to information on financial privacy, privacy laws, and monthly privacy tips.
Private
Privacy Rights Clearinghouse
Identity Theft Resources
This site provides links to identity theft publications (e.g., "Organizing Your Identity Theft Case," and "Reasonable Requests an Identity Theft Victim May Make of the Courts"), victims' stories, and other identity theft sites--some of which are listed elsewhere in my site (such as the Federal Trade Commission and the California Office of Privacy Protection). The victims' stories are definitely a wake-up call. Be sure to read them.
Identity Theft Resource Center
Resources
This page of the Identity Theft Resource Center web site contains links to other web sites on this topic, some of which are duplicated in other areas of my site. Also included are links to self-help fact sheets and something not seen on any other site I have viewed thus far: local support groups for victims of identity theft. Other areas of the site may also be of interest, although much of the information is duplicated in other sites I have listed. The "reference library" listed on this site is disappointing. Not only does it consist of only one link--to "Sandy's Identity Theft Reference Library--but the link leads to a "this site is not available" message.