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Identity Theft

What to do if someone steals your ID

Identity Theft: Medical Identity

A Publication of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse

18. Medical identity theft.

Medical identity theft occurs when someone uses your name, Social Security number, or other personal information to obtain health care or medical products. Another variation involves false claims for medical care made to your health insurer, again using your personal information.

Like other forms of identity theft, victims of medical identity theft may first become aware of a problem with a call from a debt collector. Medical identity theft can be particularly insidious since remedies involve cleaning up your medical records as well as your credit reports.

For a full discussion of the crime of medical identity theft as well as steps to take if you are a victim, visit the Web site of the World Privacy Forum, www.worldprivacyforum.org

• 1. Notify credit bureaus
• 2. Law Enforcement
• 3. Federal Trade Commission
• 4. Fraudulent Accounts
• 5. Creditors and Existing Accounts
• 6. Debt Collectors
• 7. Checking and Bank Fraud
• 8. ATM Cards
• 9. Brokerage Accounts
• 10. Mail Fraud
• 11. Secret Service
• 12. Social Security Misuse
• 13. Passports
• 14. Phone Service
• 15. Student Loans
• 16. Driver's License Misuse
• 17. ID Theft By People Known to You
• 18. Medical Identity Theft
• 19. Victim Statements
• 20. False Judgments
• 21. Legal Help
• 22. Keep Good Records
• 23. Other useful information
• 27. Resources