10 Tips To Protect You From Identity Theft
The theft of one's personal identity information is a major concern in our society
, as more than 8 million people in the United States fall victim to some sort of identity theft each year. Identity thieves use information they have stolen to apply for new credit accounts in the victims name, and conduct other fraudulent transactions and activities that can irreparable harm to the victim.
There is no 100% foolproof method of foiling these theives; however there are many precautions a person can take to lessen the risk of becoming a victim. Here are ten things that can help protect you against identity theft.
1. Never put your Social Security Number in your wallet, purse or pocket. It needs to stay at home in a safe place.
2. Do not print your Social Security Number on your checks. Doing so is an open invitation for criminals to steal your number and thus your identity.
3. Watch out for shoulder-surfers. If you are in a public place, take care that no one is looking over your shoulder when you enter personal information like PINs or credit card numbers in ATM machines, computer terminals, or your phone.
4. Shred Everything. Many identity thieves make a practice of dumpster diving to retrieve personal information that has been thrown away. Anything with your name or personal information on it must never be thrown in the garbage unless it is shredded first.
5. Do not write your signature on the backs of your credit cards. Simply write "See Photo ID".
6. Destroy all digital data such as CDs Zip disks, tape, floppy disks, etc.
6. Review your bills and bank statements each month. Of you find any descrepencies or questionable transactions, contact the issuing institution immediately.
7. If you do not have a lockable, secure mailbox, be sure to mail your paid bills at the Post Office.
8. Do not leave your paid bills in the mailbox to be sent out unless your mailbox is secure and locked. Identity thieves can easily steal your mail, wash the checks with chemicals, and reuse them fraudulently.
9. Analyze your credit report at least once a year for accuracy. Your credit report contains information about present and prior employers, your Social Security Number, all of your current and past credit accounts including and your general credit score. Report any inaccuracies to the credit reporting agency immediately.
10. Make sure your anti-virus and anti-spyware software is up to date for protection from viruses, malware, and spyware.
by: Jesse Whitehead
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