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Stopping Identity Theft
3 Important Tips To Avoid Identity Theft
Stopping identity theft needs to be your #1 priority. Having your identity stolen is a harrowing experience. Not only can it cause serious damage to your credit rating, but it could leave you with a criminal record.
Some victims of identity theft have spent considerable time and money in an attempt to clear their names, at times unsuccessfully. For many, it shakes their trust in fellow human beings and raises emotions such as anger, fear, and constant anxiety.
If a thief breaks into your home and steals something, say DVD player, at least you can tell fairly quickly that it's missing. But, when a thief steals your identity, it could go undetected for weeks or months. By the time you discover what has happened, your relatively normal life might be turned upside down.
Restoring your identity is a long, exhaustive process, and it's likely that you'll never be able to undo all the damage that the identity thief has done. Stopping identity theft before it happens is always your best option.
Tip #1 For Stopping Identity Theft:
Keep Personal Information Out Of Mailbox & GarbageIt may seem old-fashioned, but so-called dumpster diving is alive and well. Certain identity thieves still rummage through trash in offices and outside people's homes in hopes of finding personal information they can put to use.
Thankfully, it's easy to prevent your identity from being stolen from your trash. Simply shred anything that has account numbers, Social Security Numbers (Canadian Social Insurance Numbers), names and addresses, or ANY identifying information on it before throwing it out. Small affordable shredders are available at many local stores and online at Amazon.com.
Identity thieves also like to target household mailboxes. They are a great source for personal checks, credit card statements, credit card offers, bank statements, government checks, and so on. Be sure to pick up your mail quickly after it is delivered. Never leave personal mail in your mailbox overnight.
Contact your local post office before taking a vacation, and have a temporary hold placed on your mail delivery, or arrange for a trusted friend or neighbor to pick up your mail.
Tip #2 For Stopping Identity Theft:
Avoid Identity Theft On The ComputerWhile online shopping and banking are wonderful conveniences, they can also provide convenient opportunities for identity thieves. Some thieves send "phishing" emails designed to appear as if they came from PayPal or your bank, requesting verification of passwords and account numbers. Other thieves set up fake online stores featuring too-good-to-be-true prices to steal personal information from people who shop online.
NEVER click on a link in an email that requests personal information. If you do, you'll likely end up at the thief's website. Instead, log into your banking site as you normally would. If there is a legitimate problem with your account, you will see a notification there. If you have any doubt at all, call the company using a telephone number from your bill or statement, or by getting a number from the telephone directory. Do NOT use a phone number taken from the email; it's likely the thief's.
Whenever you shop online, only give your credit card number and personal information to companies you trust. Also, make doubly sure the webpage you enter information into is encrypted and secure. Look for the little padlock icon at the top or bottom of your browser, and the page's URL will begin with "https" instead of "http" -- look for the "s" that indicates the page is secure.
Tip #3 For Stopping Identity Theft:
Check And Protect Your Credit ReportOne of the most important things you can do to protect your identity is keep a close eye on your credit reports. It might not prevent your identity from being stolen, but it can alert you to any strange activity so you can take strong action to avoid further damage. A periodic check of your credit reports can help you catch problems quickly.
As soon as you notice any suspicious activity, report it to the three major credit bureaus and have them place a fraud alert on your credit report. (Contact information is available elsewhere on this site.) This action can prevent the thief from opening any more accounts in your name thereby stopping identity theft in its tracks.
It is also important to have a fraud alert placed on your credit report if you discover that your personal information has been stolen from a third party. No matter how careful you protect your important documents and personal information, a clever identity thief can target your employer or a company or financial institution where you've done business and obtain everything he/she needs.
Companies are required to inform their customers (and employees) when their personal information has or might have been stolen from their data bases or files. If you should ever receive such a notice from a company, contact the major credit bureaus immediately to request a report and initiate an immediate fraud alert.
Stopping Identity Theft By Making It Difficult For ThievesIdentity thieves are persistent, but they tend to be opportunists. If you make it difficult for them to obtain and use your personal information, they are more likely to pass you by for another target.
Unfortunately, there are lots of potential identity theft victims who do nothing to protect their identities, making themselves easier marks for thieves. Make stopping identity theft your number one priority!
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