Chicago Heights, IL—(ENEWSPF)—December 2, 2010. State Representative Anthony DeLuca (D-Chicago Heights) and a representative of Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s Office will host a Consumer Fraud and Identity Theft Seminar on Wednesday, December 15th from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Lynwood Village Hall, 21460 Lincoln Highway, Lynwood, IL. The event is free and open to the public.
The purpose of the Seminar is to inform local citizens on the steps they can take to better protect themselves from various types of consumer fraud, including identity theft.
“Consumer fraud comes in many different forms and victimizes thousands of Illinoisans each year, that’s why it is so important that we help provide consumers with the knowledge they need to protect themselves,” DeLuca said. “Victims of one form of consumer fraud, identity theft, may not even know they have been victimized until they look at their credit report or a credit card statement and see unusual charges they didn’t make. In some cases, fraud victims may not even know their identity has been stolen and misused until they are contacted by a collection agency.”
A study released by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in February of 2010 reported that during the 2009 calendar year, Illinois experienced 36,133 consumer fraud complaints with 12,113 of the total number of complaints being cases of identity theft. The FTC study also reports that in 2009, U.S. Financial losses incurred due to consumer fraud totaled over $1.7 billion.
“When it comes to protecting your finances and credit rating from being wrecked by identity theft, fraud, scams, and other types of consumer-related crimes, being forewarned and taking the necessary steps can make all the difference in the world,” DeLuca added. “I encourage anyone who wants to learn more about consumer fraud and how to protect yourself from it to attend this free meeting.”
For additional information, or to RSVP for the Seminar, please contact Representative DeLuca’s constituent service office at 708-672-0200.
Source: State Representative DeLuca’s Office
