Friday, November 11, 2011

Identity Theft

          


           Identity theft can be extremely costly and have a detrimental impact on your life.  There are nearly ten million victims each year, and out of these, 85% discover the problem too late.  The average victim could lose up to $6,383.  This isn’t an easy fix either.  The impact of falling victim to identity theft could last up to ten years!     
            This crime can be committed by stealing any of the following: Name and address, social security number, credit card number, bank account numbers and PINs, driver’s license number, and mother’s maiden name.  These items are most commonly stolen by someone stealing purses, wallets, and mail, as well as simply dumpster diving. 
            
Things you can do to protect yourself from this crime include:
  • Guard your personal information
    •   Limit what you carry in your wallet.  You should also shred disposable items containing personal information such as credit card offers and bank statement.
  • Control incoming and outgoing mail
    •    Use official U.S Postal Service offices and collection boxes, pick up your mail promptly, pay attention to billing cycles, and place mail on hold when you’re away.
  • Protect passwords
    •  Avoid easily accessed information and memorize your PINs and passwords.  Make sure you do not use common information for your passwords or PINs.  Ex: birthday, address, initials, etc.
  •  Be aware of online threats
    • Review your emails carefully, make sure your using a secured website when shopping, and password protect your computer.
  • Do not provide secure information over the phone
  • Order credit reports
    •   There are three major agencies that will give you a free report once every year.
  • Consider an ID theft protection service
    • These can be provided for a low monthly fee, give you peace of mind, and help prevent the issue before it happens.

If you become a victim you need to immediately file a report with the police, contact your local bank, and the three major credit bureaus.

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