Identity Theft Protection - Stay Safe With These Tips
Identity theft is a growing problem and one that can have far reaching and devastating consequences for the victim. Most of us may think that identity theft is mostly about using a SSN number to check out books at the library or similar, but that’s not the case. Identity theft may result in someone using your identity to scam you out of all your belongings, put you in debt and commit crimes in your name. Stay safe always with these tips:
Be careful with your ID
The most common way of identity theft is someone posing as an employee of a bank, government office, police or similar in order to get hold of your SSN or credit card information. Be careful with divulging personal information over the phone or internet. Someone who has a legitimate reason for asking for your information will have the ability to prove their identity. Never allow yourself to be bullied into giving away your information
Use caution with your trash
Even in this digital age, important information is still sent primarily by regular mail. You may think that once you throw something in the trash, then it’s gone and done with, but that is in no way certain. Scammers and criminals go trough trash looking for confidential information such as bank statements or information containing your SSN number. You’d be surprised as to how much a trained scammer can get from your trash. Make sure to completely destroy important mail after you have used it.
Keep an eye on your bank account statements
A common method of credit card fraud is to get your CCN but not use it right away. Instead, the criminal may try making a small purchase, to see if you will close the card. If nothing happens, then he may continue to make other small purchases, week by week, month by month or he may choose to go for the big score. Make it a weekly habit to go through all of your bank statements.
Protect your computer
Most cases of identity theft currently involve computers and the internet. The common way identity theft happens online is trough the use of ‘phishing’, in where the thief will try to get you to disclose confidential information my creating fake websites mimicking Ebay, Amazon or your bank.
Stay safe with ID theft protection from http://www.protectyouridentity.org.