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McGruff the Crime Dog says “Take a bite out of identity theft crime”

by Emily Peters on 07/26/2006

The National Crime Prevention Council, best known for the trench-clad McGruff the Crime Dog, has launched a new campaign to educate consumers about identity theft. The program is called “Keep your identity to yourself” and includes a dramatic public service announcement. Click on the image below to watch identity thieves in action and hear McGruff’s tips:

The campaign also focuses on the statistic that 53% of identity theft crimes are committed by someone you know. However, McGruff doesn’t really get in to the details of what to do in the event that your cousin turns out to be a “crook.” There are also a few details included in their identity theft brochure that are troublesome; including the advice to close all credit card accounts you haven’t used for six months (which can cause major credit score damage) and the use of camera phones to steal credit card data (I’m not convinced that actually works).

What do you think about McGruff’s new campaign? Watch the PSA and share your feedback in the comments section below.

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