How Can I Prevent
Identity Theft And Fraud?
In 2004 alone, more than nine million Americans
found themselves the victims of identity theft or
identity fraud. Their personal information was
stolen, such as Social Security numbers (SSN), birth
dates, and credit card account numbers. From there,
this information was used to charge purchases, clone
identities, outright steal money, or assume their
identities.
To prevent yourself from this pervasive crime, there
are a few simple and commonsense steps you can take.
First, protect documents with your personal
information on them. This includes insurance
policies, credit card statements, wills, and bank
documents. Second, when you must dispose of these
papers, be sure to shred them and dispose of the
shreddings in different bags. That way, diligent
imposters can't reconstruct anything.
Third, do not give out personal information over the
phone or via email to solicitors. Reputable
companies will never call or email you asking for
you to verify your account. Fourth, use a locked
mailbox to prevent snoopers. Fifth, only carry
credit cards you need and make sure PIN numbers
associated with these cards aren't obvious (like
your address or birthday).
If you think you have already fallen victim to ID
theft, call one of the
three major
credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and
TransUnion) immediately so they can monitor your
credit inquiries and charges. When you tell one,
they will all know and you will be issued a free
credit report. Also, alert your bank, credit card
companies, and other agencies about the incident.
They can freeze your accounts until everything is
cleared up. |
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