Jannsen & Company: June 30 seminar to focus on consumer protection, minimizing risk of identity theft

CONTACT: Terry Jannsen, CPA, Jannsen & Company, S.C. (262) 513-9292

Pewaukee, Wis. – No one likes being a statistic, but some are worse than others – such as the 10 million Americans annually who are victims of identity theft.

A June 30 “Identity Theft Protection Seminar” at Jannsen & Company will offer information and advice on preventing identity theft, which costs Wisconsin consumers an estimated $50 million annually. The free event is at 7:30 a.m. at the Jannsen Center, W239-N3490 Pewaukee Road (southeast corner of Capitol Drive and Highway 164). Interested attendees should call (262) 513-9292 to register.

“This seminar will explain what identity theft is and the many ways it occurs,” said Terry Jannsen, CPA and President of Jannsen & Company, S.C. “As with any other crime, you cannot completely control whether you will be victimized, but you can minimize your risk. This seminar will detail how a person’s identity can be compromised, how people can protect themselves, and what they should do if their identity is stolen.”

While online identity theft gets a great deal of attention, the vast majority of identity theft occurs when mail is stolen, personal papers are recovered from trash, or fraudulent phone calls entice people to reveal personal information. Victims of identity theft often are unable to recover funds stolen from bank accounts, and may be liable for amounts charged fraudulently on their credit accounts. They usually spend untold amounts of time and money reclaiming their identity and credit-worthiness.

Identity theft and fraud crimes have increased by about 20 percent annually in recent years, according to the Federal Trade Commission, with national losses in the billions of dollars. The best way for consumers to protect themselves is to know the methods used by identity thieves, and act accordingly.

Founded in 1975, Jannsen & Company is a full-service certified public accounting and business resources firm with more than 20 professionals and employees. Besides a full range of CPA and payroll processing services, Jannsen & Company advises businesses on information technology, wealth management and human resources.