![\"Attorney](\"https:\/\/www.thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/Mike-DeWine-headshot-200px-6-2014.jpg\")
<\/a>\u201cAnyone can be affected by identity theft, but if you\u2019re a military family, it can be especially difficult to deal with,\u201d Attorney General DeWine said. \u201cA few years ago, I created an Identity Theft Unit to help people correct the damage caused by identity theft. Since then, we\u2019ve helped thousands of people. We want to remind service members and all Ohioans that we\u2019re here to help.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Attorney General\u2019s Identity Theft Unit helps victims correct the effects of identity theft, such as fraudulent accounts or credit reporting errors. Since its creation in 2012, the unit has received more than 3,300 complaints and has helped to adjust or clear approximately $900,000, according to consumer complaint data.<\/p>\n
Identity theft occurs when someone obtains and uses an individual\u2019s personal information without permission to commit fraud. The effects of identity theft can be especially hard on military members and their families. In 2014, identity theft was the number one military complaint filed with the Federal Trade Commission, representing 27 percent of all military consumer complaints.<\/p>\n
Signs of identity theft include:<\/p>\n
Unexpected letters or phone calls<\/b><\/p>\n Bank and credit report problems<\/b><\/p>\n Issues with law enforcement and government<\/b><\/p>\n Military members and their families can help protect themselves from identity theft by taking the following steps:<\/p>\n\n
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