Frank was out shopping one day and found a shirt he liked. He went to pay the clerk when she says "your credit card has been declined." Frank is shocked and embarrassed and leaves the store. He calls the credit card company as soon as he gets home. He is told that his account is past its limit and his payments are past due. Frank finds out that his credit card number was stolen and he is a victim of identity theft. Unfortunately, this is only the beginning of his three-year nightmare.

When bad things happen to your good name, it takes years to recover your credibility. In some cases, like the one above, the victim never had contact with the criminal.

You are invited to attend the South Metro Chapter meeting May 12, 10 a.m., at House of Prayer Church, 76th and Chicago Avenue in Richfield, when Jill Mecklenburg of the Richfield Police Crime Prevention Unit will present ways you can prevent this crime from happening to you. You will learn how identity theft occurs, what you can do to protect yourself and what to do if you are a victim. You'll receive helpful tips for stopping mass mailing mooch lists, credit card offers and potential scams. You'll also learn how to avoid other local scams as well.

South Metro chapter meetings are open to the public. No reservations are required. For more information, contact the Federation office at 651/645-0261.