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Identity Theft - How Can You Prevent It Happening to
You?
The nightmare of identity theft strikes an estimated 750,000
people every year. How can you keep from being one of them? While
there is no guarantee that you won't become a victim, there are
some steps you can take to decrease the risk and protect
yourself.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, some everyday tips
to protecting your personal information include:
? Not giving out your personal information to a stranger over
the phone, the Internet, or through the mail. Your Social
Security number (SSN), phone number and address, credit card or
bank account numbers, and drivers' license number can be used by
criminals to assume your identity. Unless you know the person you
are communicating with or have invited them to contact you, do
not answer any question that makes you uncomfortable. Identity
thieves can pose successfully as agents from banks, credit card
companies, Internet service providers, utility companies, or
government offices. If someone calls claiming to represent a
legitimate organization, confirm this by calling the customer
service number listed on your statement or bill.
? Finding out how your personal information will be used and
if you have the option to keep the details confidential when
providing this data to a legitimate organization, for example,
when filling out an application. Ask if the organization has a
method of securing your information and if they plan to share it
with other companies or individuals.
? Always monitoring the balances on your checking, savings, or
other financial accounts. Keep an eye out for unexplained charges
or withdrawals made without your permission. Carefully reading
your monthly bank and credit card statements, then checking the
amounts against your check register or other record-keeping
method could catch a thief in the act of assuming your identity
and spending your hard-earned money.
? Keeping track of your billing cycles. If your credit card
statement doesn't arrive at its usual time, this could signal an
address change by an identity thief.
? Being cautious handling your mail and even your trash. Place
outgoing mail in a post office collection box or at the post
office instead of leaving it out on your mailbox. Bring the mail
inside promptly every day, and when planning to be out of town,
enlist the help of a friend or neighbor to do the same. A thief
can sift through your garbage in search of sensitive information.
Shred all charge receipts, credit offers and applications,
insurance or physician's statements, checks and bank statements,
and discarded credit cards.
? Storing your Social Security card someplace other than your
purse or wallet. Provide your SSN only when necessary, and ask to
substitute another number if your state uses your SSN on your
drivers' license.
? Carrying only the credit or debit cards you need. Leave
other identifying cards at home.
In addition to the everyday precautions that can minimize your
risk, there are some other actions you can take to improve your
safety:
? Safeguard the information on your computer by updating your
virus protection plan on a regular basis, using a firewall to
keep hackers from accessing your files, and deleting any personal
information on your computer before you dispose of it using a
"wipe" utility program that clears the hard drive. Never download
a file from someone you don't know, and do not open e-mails from
an unfamiliar sender; doing so could expose your computer to a
virus. Finally, when submitting personal information over the
Internet, look for the "lock" icon on the status bar to know that
your browser is secure.
? Use passwords for your bank, credit card, and phone
accounts. Try to think of a unique number that you can remember
other than your birth date, your mother's maiden name, the last
four digits of your SSN, or a series of numbers in order, e.g.
1-2-3-4.
? Find a safe place for your purse or wallet while you're at
work. Ask about the policy your office has for securing your
personal information, such as who has access to it, where it is
stored, and how it is disposed of when you leave.
? Every year, order a copy of your credit report from the
three different credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and
TransUnion. Check for the accuracy of each and correct any
discrepancies. You may be charged for the report, but the savings
you receive in peace of mind is well worth the fee.
? Clean up any credit damage as soon as you possibly can.
Errors in reporting alone happen often, some estimates are as
high as 62% of the information on a credit report may be
inaccurate. That doesn't even begin to cover situations such as
identity theft which is a serious problem on the rise in the U.S.
You can consult a Credit Damage expert if you suspect that your
credit has been accessed or used in any way without your
permission. That includes companies running a simple inquiry
without you saying they can. For more information on what an
expert witness can do for you, go to
http://www.creditdamage.com
When it comes to protecting your good name and your
hard-earned money, a little caution goes a long way.
Cathy Taylor is a marketing consultant with over 25 years
experience. She specializes in internet marketing, strategy and
plan development, as well as management of communications and
public relations programs for small business sectors. She can be
reached at Creative Communications: creative-com@cox.net or by
visiting http://www.creditdamage.com or
http://www.internet-marketing-small-business.com
MORE RESOURCES:
Credit - Google News
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