How to Protect Yourself Against Identity Theft
Identity theft is an increasing problem that affects a growing number of people every year. Learn how to protect yourself against identity theft and what to do if you suspect someone may be using your identity.
(PRWEB) May 1, 2005 -- Identity theft is when someone uses, without
permission, your personal information in order to commit any frauds or crimes.
Identity theft is a felony that is becoming more and more common. That is
because some of us are not very careful with personal information, making the
job easier for those trying to steel our identity. We should always be careful
with information like Social Security number, credit card number, birth date,
employment information, driver's license number, etc., because if they enter
into the wrong hands the consequences can be very serious. People that have
experienced identity theft spend months trying to repair what others have
damaged, and in the meantime they cannot get a loan or lose a job opportunity
or, sometimes, they can get arrested for something they didn't do.
If you
have the slightest suspicion that someone has gained access to your personal
information, acting quickly is a must. First of all, you should get in touch
with the fraud department of the credit bureau where you have your accounts and
request them to initiate a credit alert on your accounts. This way the creditors
are obligated to contact you before taking any actions regarding your accounts.
At the same time you should close the accounts you believe that are corrupted.
The second step would be filing a police report and keeping a copy of it so to
have a proof of the crime.
It is difficult dealing with an identity theft
and most of all is difficult to repair what others have messed up for you. We
cannot completely prevent identity theft, but we can take some simple
precautions to minimize the risks. The most important thing to do is to pay
attention to your bank statements: they should arrive in time and you should
check them very carefully. Your bank statement should always arrive almost at
the same date every month. If you don't get your statement one month this could
mean that someone has changed your billing address to prevent you from
discovering any unauthorized activity in your account. Also, you must check
every statement as you get it and be sure that you have made all the purchases
recorded on it.
Another simple precaution for preventing identity theft
is to be careful with your personal papers. Never carry all of them with you as
it is not safe. If you don't need your Social Security card, birth certificate,
passport, etc., leave them home in a secured place and carry them with you only
when you need them for some reason. Also, you should be careful with your mail
as it often contains personal information. Either put a lock on your mailbox or
have your mail delivered to a post office box.
Nowadays, purchases made
over the internet are very common and some thieves have turned their attention
to this domain. The way to protect your personal information when shopping
online is to never release them unless you are using a secure browser. If you
don't have a secured browser or the website you're visiting is not secured,
place your order by phone or email. Also, for the websites that require a
password or a personal identification number (PIN) don't use common names or
dates as anyone can guess them, but create your own password or PIN made of
numbers and letters.
These precautions do not really guaranty that you'll
not be an identity theft victim but they will surely minimize the chances that
you'll become one. Being careful with your personal information should not be a
hustle but a routine. This way you can be sure you'll not spend months or years
and lots of money to restore your credit record and your name after thieves have
messed it up. Precaution is the name of the game.
To find out more about
identity theft and other important financial matters, visit www.creditorweb.com
.
# # #
Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/4/prweb235015.htm