Identity theft is a serious crime that continues to grow. If you become a victim of identity theft, you may spend months, or years, trying to repair the damage. A compromised credit report can ruin your chances of getting a new job, a loan, insurance or even housing. It's true that it is possible that you could be arrested for a crime you didn't commit if someone else has used your identity to break a law.
Unfortunately, many of the methods that thieves use to steal identities are completely beyond your control. Although it's rare, some store clerks have been known to use their position to give or sell information to identity thieves. There are some measures you can take, however, that will make it harder for them to steal your identity.
Protect Your Credit Card Number When Making Purchases:
After you make a purchase and your credit or debit card has been swiped through a credit card terminal, check to make sure that the printed receipt hides all but the last four digits of your credit card account number (there will usually be an x in place of the first twelve digits).
Some credit card terminals do print receipts that show all sixteen digits of an account number, and may even include the expiration date! After your card is swiped, you're permitted by law to hide the first 12 digits of your account number on the copy of the receipt that the vendor keeps. Use a pen or marker to cross-out the other numbers completely.
When dining out, it's important to make sure that the first 12 digits of your credit card number are hidden on the receipt. You might be in the habit of signing it and then leaving the restaurant's copy on the table after your meal. An identity thief can steal the signed receipt before the waiter comes back to pick it up from the table.
Do You Really Need To Give Your Social Security Number?
Avoid giving out your social security number unless it's absolutely necessary. Although you need to share your social security number when you apply for credit or for a bank account, sometimes a store or an organization will want to use it as an ID number. This is a fairly common practice even though the law says that social security numbers aren't to be used as ID numbers. In these situations, use your judgment. There's usually an alternative if you ask.
Destroy Documents That Contain Sensitive Personal Information:
Buy an office paper shredder and use it to destroy documents you're discarding which contain personal information like credit card numbers, social security numbers, phone numbers and birth dates. Do this both at home and at work.
Identity thieves frequently go through someone's trash to find personal information that can help them obtain credit in the victim's name.
If It Happens To You, Take The Following Steps Immediately:
1: Contact your credit card companies, close your accounts and ask to have new cards issued to you.
2: Place a fraud alert on your file with the three major credit bureaus (Equifax: 1-800-525-6285, Experian: 1-888-397-3742 & Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289).
3: File a report with your local police department. You may need it to show to creditors a copy of the report as proof of the crime.
4: File a complaint with the FTC: http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/ - They maintain a database of identity theft cases used by law enforcement agencies for their investigations.
Mike Nalbone Is The Webmaster At: http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/ Which Provides News, Information And Resources That Anyone Can Use To Do Online Investigations And Criminal Background Checks.
This Article Is ? 2005 & May Be Published Solely In Its Entirety, Un-Modified, Provided The Above Resource Box Is Included Along With An Active (Clickable) Link To: http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/
Mike Nalbone Is The Webmaster At: http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/ Which Provides News, Information And Resources That Anyone Can Use To Do Online Investigations And Criminal Background Checks.
Just about everyone has a checking account. Checks present easy... Read More
Does it feel like you have to be Sherlock Holmes... Read More
People haven't always written checks to buy goods and services.... Read More
Creating a budget can be a very difficult task. Although... Read More
Recently, many of these loyalty rewards programs have come to... Read More
The gas that we fill our tanks with every week... Read More
Financial freedom cannot be achieved without budgeting. Budgeting involves tracking... Read More
Whatever your reason for having a tight budget, the truth... Read More
How many drawers did you have to look through to... Read More
If you've been to a shopping mall lately, you've probably... Read More
Are your financial muscles well toned and healthy or flabby... Read More
1. Lighting & Light Bulbs Install low energy light... Read More
1. Don't focus on your finances.The reason most people get... Read More
If you, like most people, have not seriously considered what... Read More
Doesn't it seem like the only impressive numbers we've seen... Read More
Here are ten steps you can follow to help improve... Read More
It doesn't take much for you to get behind on... Read More
It is estimated that we, as consumers, waste an average... Read More
Things are so expensive these days. We seem to be... Read More
I'm still amazed every time someone comes to me complaining... Read More
Developing and living by a household budget is by far... Read More
One of the simplest ways to improve your professional image... Read More
1) HOW TO LOOK FOR A JOBA) The Chronological Curriculum:1.... Read More
My personal opinion is that in today's new economy, it... Read More
Ben Stein has a book called How to Ruin Your... Read More
Today I passed a thermometer at a bank that read... Read More
Have you seen the recent article on a new "green"... Read More
Everyone needs to maintain their lives. What I mean by... Read More
Women are charged more for dry cleaning services. Don't fume,... Read More
This investment retirement account (IRA) is useful to you as... Read More
Most Americans have been brought up to be concerned about... Read More
One of the biggest challenges facing black RELATIONSHIPS today are... Read More
Well, dang! From what I've heard and read, it looks... Read More
Ben Stein has a book called How to Ruin Your... Read More
The first step to financial success lies in knowing your... Read More
Chapter 7The potential chapter 7 debtor should understand that a... Read More
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to... Read More
Does it feel like you have to be Sherlock Holmes... Read More
Recent security breaches at several credit card companies continue to... Read More
While 40% to 50% of us make New Year's resolutions... Read More
The price of gas continues to climb, and with continued... Read More
There is a new bill that is being passes, it... Read More
My personal opinion is that in today's new economy, it... Read More
Things are so expensive these days. We seem to be... Read More
Did you have a piggy bank when you were a... Read More
Budgeting. It's a word we're all familiar with. Everyone knows... Read More
For most of us the process of getting out of... Read More
Whatever your reason for having a tight budget, the truth... Read More
With the advent of the internet and especially auction services... Read More
With the A-level results coming out, the long wait for... Read More
Personal Finance |