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Preventative Measures against Identity Theft?
What strikes young or old, male or female, rich
or poor? If you guessed Identity Theft, you are
correct. Identity Theft is now America's
fastest growing crime.
What is Identity Theft? It's the act of
using someone's personal information (such
as a name, account number, driver's license,
health insurance card, or Social Security number,
for example) without that person's knowledge,
and using the assumed identity to commit fraud
or theft. Often times, the personal information
is used to get loans or open credit-card accounts.
Some victims who have had their identity stolen
have lost job opportunities, been refused loans
and housing, and been left with destroyed credit
and reputations.
Identity Theft victims and financial experts have
offered a variety of precautions to help protect
against this crime, including:
- Keep track of personal information and
only share information with a company that
is known and trusted. Read and understand
the fine print in every document signed or
when entering in an agreement.
- Protect your Social Security number and
mother's maiden name. Avoid giving personal
information out over the phone. Never post
your Social Security number on checks, outside
of envelopes, etc.
- Minimize the number of identification information
and financial cards carried in your wallet
and sign all new credit cards upon receipt.
Write "Check ID" after your signature
as a note to shopkeepers to ask for identification.
- Keep new and canceled checks in
a safe place, and report lost or stolen checks
to the issuing financial institution immediately.
- Never leave receipts at bank machines,
bank counters, trash receptacles, or unattended
gas pumps. Save them and match them against
your monthly bills, and then shred them.
- Buy only from secure Internet sites.
Look for the closed lock icon to appear at
the bottom of your browser to check the site's
security status.
- Shred any documents that have any
personal information or credit account numbers
on them before discarding, including tax returns
and unwanted credit card offers.
- Report all lost or stolen credit
cards. If you applied for a new credit card
and it has not arrived in a timely manner,
call the bank or credit card company that
is issuing the card.
- Follow up with creditors if bills
do not arrive on time. A missing credit card
bill could mean an identity thief has changed
your billing address to cover his/her tracks.
- Notify credit card companies and
financial institutions in advance of any change
of address or telephone number. Make sure
to contact the sender if your statements are
not received in the mail by their usual time.
- Monitor your credit. Check your
credit report regularly from the three credit-reporting
agencies for any unfamiliar changes, such
as new accounts, inquiries, or public records.
- Review your Social Security Earnings
and Benefits Statement annually to check for
fraud. If you haven't received one lately,
you can call 1.800.772.1213.
By keeping an eye on your statements and regularly
monitoring your credit, you will be taking measures
to protect your credit against the extensive damage
of Identity Theft. Want to fight back against
Identity Theft? Look into Experian®
Credit Manager PLUSSM. A free 30-day
trial includes a free Experian Credit Report,
score and score analysis. Full membership includes
unlimited Experian Credit Reports and scores,
daily scanning of your credit file, monitoring
alerts of key changes to your file, and access
to credit information and resources to help you
understand your credit. Invest in your credit
future and protect what's yours with Experian
Credit Manager PLUS today.
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