The occurrences of identity theft continue to grow despite the fact that the average consumer is becoming more educated about the frequency of this crime. Identity theft occurs when someone other than yourself uses your identity to open lines of credit and various utilities. If you have been the victim of identity theft, by the time you realize what has happened, the damage is usually done. This is one of the reasons why consumers are encouraged to review their credit report at least once per year as well as take actions to ensure their identity is protected at all times. Here are tips to help you protect your identity from the would-be thieves who want to catch a free ride using your name.
How to Protect yourself From Identity Theft
Keep private information private. This sounds like a simple concept, yet surprisingly many people fail to protect their information through carelessness or simple ignorance. Identity thieves can collect information in day-to-day situations that most people do not think twice about. Protect any information that contains your full name, social security number, address and account numbers. Documents do not have to have all of this information for your identity to be stolen, therefore it is important to shred or properly secure any paperwork that has all or part of this information. You should also consider using a fireproof safe or safety deposit box for securing important documents.
Understand identity theft scams. The Internet can be a great tool when used as intended, however it is also a great way for identity thieves to target unsuspecting victims. The most common scams used to steal a person’s identity are relatively easy to spot, if you know what to look for. Unsolicited emails that look similar to that of your bank, credit card company or other financial institution, asking for personal information should always be considered fraudulent. No legitimate company will contact you via email requesting this information. Do not reply to this type of correspondence or even open any attachments from the sender as they may include spyware or malware that infects your computer and can be used to steal your information.
Credit monitoring services. There are services available, that for a fee will monitor your credit report and alert you to any suspicious activity that may indicate someone is attempting to open accounts or obtain credit in your name. one of the best credit monitoring services is IDENTITY GUARD®. IDENTITY GUARD® offers a free credit score, credit reports, credit monitoring service, and other great features at an affordable price.
The key to preventing identity theft
The most important aspect of protecting yourself from identity theft is paying attention to where and with whom you share personal information. This can be as simple as making sure you destroy documents before placing them in the trash to paying attention to the information you post on social media sites. Name, birth date and address are a starting point for identity thieves, therefore any time you share this information or other confidential information, you are putting yourself at risk of identity theft. In addition to being proactive in the protection of your personal information, you must also remain vigilant by addressing inaccurate or suspicious activity that may appear on your credit report or credit card statements. Should an identity thief gain access to your information, action must be taken immediately to mitigate the damage and protect yourself from further attacks.
