The Federal Trade Commission provides information on preventing and reporting identity theft. Go to www.consumer.gov/idtheft or call toll-free hotline at 877-IDTHEFT (438-4338).

The federal regulators of depository institutions can help answer your questions on identity theft, especially as they relate to banking matters. The agencies recently published a brochure called You Can Fight Identity Theft that focuses on "phishing" scams and is available on the FDIC Web site at www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/fighttheft/index.html.