Identity theft is a big problem. Unfortunately, it's more common than many people know. It's a crime that can be large or small and has the potential to do a lot of damage. The Federal Trade Commission estimates that ten million Americans become victims of this type of theft each year. The damage falls into the range of five to fifteen billion dollars.
To help prevent identity thieves from stealing pertinent information, you have to learn how to protect your identity and personal information. The Internet is not the only means that thieves have to steal your identity. In fact, it is the larger theft rings that have this capability, while individual thieves are much more sneaky and can easily access anything that they need to about you. The individual thieves are the ones who go through your trash, steal your wallet, and use your social security number to get lines of credit.
Protecting your identity is going to require a bit of extra effort on your side. Take an inventory of the things in your purse or wallet. You need to make photocopies of your cards to document them. Take extra effort with important bills that you are discarding; run them through a shredder to ensure that dumpster divers can't get any information about your accounts. Keep your PIN numbers and social security card in a safe location at home. Check your credit report at least once a year for suspicious activity.
Despite your best efforts, you may find that you have become a victim, or you have already noticed that there are questionable charges you are receiving bills for that you know you haven't done. If this happens, contact the company immediately. Let them know that you think your identity has been stolen and get as much information about the transaction as you can, requesting a copy of anything whenever possible. Call the credit bureaus and have them place a hold on your credit.
You will also need to file a police report with your local law enforcement agency. When you file your report, take a copy of your credit report as well as the information that you got from the companies. The police will need as much specific detail as possible. Carry a copy of the police report with you in the event that you should need proof of the theft. Take your police report to the motor vehicle department and get a new driver's license number and updated picture.
Identity theft does not have to make you overcautious or terrified to continue on with your daily life. While it can cause a lot of damage that would take a while to fix, taking the proper precautions can reduce your odds of becoming a victim of this crime. Take care and pay attention with what you do.
About the Author:
You need to protect yourself from identity theft. There are many ways to avoid identity theft.
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