ID Theft – Don’t Be A Victim

One of the fastest growing crimes in the United States is identity theft. There are a number of ways that your identity can be stolen and the consequences can be staggering both financially and emotionally. Identity theft happens when someone uses your personal financial information when applying for loans, credit cards or leases. The thief takes advantage of your good credit, leaving behind bad credit in your name. It happens to at least 500,000 new victims each year, according to government figures. Don’t be a victim of identity theft. Safe guard all of your account numbers. Here are some tips:

Invest in a shredder. Don’t let your garbage be a place for criminals to strike. Shred any credit card applications that you receive in the mail or any papers that contain any personal or credit history.

Reduce the number of cards you carry and don’t carry your social security card or passport. Also, don’t print your social security number on your checks or carry it with you.

Most businesses now use carbonless copies of credit card purchase receipts. For those who still use carbons make sure you rip them up. A great wealth of information for criminals can be found on them.

Do not give you credit card information to anyone over the phone unless you initiated the call. And do not give out your credit card information on the Internet unless it is a secured site.

Always look over your monthly bills to make sure all of the charges are yours. If not, immediately contact your creditors.

Call your credit card companies and request to have a password put on your account. This will hopefully prevent anyone from being able to check your credit history without your knowledge.

Get a copy of your credit report at least once a year to check for errors.

Be aware that these measures may not entirely stop fraudulent accounts from being opened, but it may make it more difficult for a criminal to steal your identity.

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