Test your knowledge by taking our quiz based on information in this issue

1. Identity theft (when a swindler uses someone else's name to obtain credit cards or loans that won't be repaid) is, by far, the top fraud complaint reported to the Federal Trade Commission. True or False?

2. If you receive an e-mail saying a computer malfunction has occurred at a company you do business with (perhaps your bank or Internet service provider), and you're asked to "re-enter" your Social Security number and bank account information to help restore the missing records, it's safe to provide this information as long as the e-mail correctly identifies the company's name. True or False?

3. A thief steals a pre-approved credit card application from your trash or mailbox. He or she then may be able to order a new credit card in your name and have it mailed to him or her at a different address. True or False?

4. Under federal law, if a crook uses your credit card to go on a spending spree, you are liable for up to $50 of the fraudulent charges. But if a thief uses your ATM card or debit card, you could be responsible for $500 or more in unauthorized transactions. True or False?

5. If a con artist posing as a legitimate businessman instructs your bank to electronically transfer money from your checking account, you are not liable for any loss if you notify your bank within 60 days of the date the bank statement containing the error is mailed to you. True or False?

6. If you're selling an item on the Internet or through an ad in your local paper, it's always safe to accept a cashier's check as payment because a cashier's check, unlike a personal check, cannot be counterfeited. True or False?

7. Your credit report may reveal that you have been a victim of fraud, such as credit cards and loans or leases that have been wrongfully taken out in your name. True or False?