Posted by Nathan Mitchell
I just read a recent article by Patrick Ritchie (Author of The Credit Road Map), on identity theft. I’ll be honest; I’m in the dark when it comes to identity theft. It could happen to me, and it would probably take a while before I even figured out it happened! I’ll bet most people are same as me in that regard. We hear so much about it, but we don’t know much about it, and it couldn’t possibly happen to us! Did you know that identity theft affects 9 million Americans a year? Did you know on average victims spend 175 hours attempting to negate the affects of identity theft? I thought I’d give a rundown on the main points of Patrick’s article….
WHAT ARE THE METHODS THIEVES USE TO SNATCH OUR IDENTITY?
THEY LOOK THROUGH YOUR TRASH
If you put your bills, and other personal information into your garbage can, they can easily obtain it.
STEALING
Now there’s a concept! They steal your wallets and purses, bank statements, pre-approved mail, etc…
A CHANGE… (OF ADDRESS!)
They complete a change of address form, and all of your personal information (including your bank statements) goes to their mailbox.
PHISHING
Spam and pop-up messages that are an attempt to gain your personal information.
THEY’RE LIARS (AND THEY’RE PRETTY GOOD AT IT!)
They use false pretenses to get your personal information from financial institutions, etc…
HI TECH THIEVES
They steal credit card and debit card numbers using a special storage device when processing the card.
YIKES!!!
WHAT CAN WE DO TO PREVENT IDENTITY THEFT?
DON’T GIVE OUT YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION ON THE PHONE
DON’T CARRY YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY CARD WITH YOU
DEPOSIT MAIL IN SECURED POST OFFICE BOXES, OR AT THE POST OFFICE
SHRED ALL OF YOUR RECEIPTS, AND PAPERS THAT HAVE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION
ONLY CARRY THE NUMBER OF IDENTIFICATION PIECES AND CREDIT CARDS THAT YOU’LL ACTUALLY NEED.
DON’T GIVE OUT YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT DAYS YOUR BILLS COME (IT’S NOT A FREE MONTH IF ONE DOESN’T SHOW UP!)
I hope you found this useful. For more in-depth information download a free copy of the Identity Theft Prevention and Response Manual.
WHAT ARE THE METHODS THIEVES USE TO SNATCH OUR IDENTITY?
THEY LOOK THROUGH YOUR TRASH
If you put your bills, and other personal information into your garbage can, they can easily obtain it.
STEALING
Now there’s a concept! They steal your wallets and purses, bank statements, pre-approved mail, etc…
A CHANGE… (OF ADDRESS!)
They complete a change of address form, and all of your personal information (including your bank statements) goes to their mailbox.
PHISHING
Spam and pop-up messages that are an attempt to gain your personal information.
THEY’RE LIARS (AND THEY’RE PRETTY GOOD AT IT!)
They use false pretenses to get your personal information from financial institutions, etc…
HI TECH THIEVES
They steal credit card and debit card numbers using a special storage device when processing the card.
YIKES!!!
WHAT CAN WE DO TO PREVENT IDENTITY THEFT?
DON’T GIVE OUT YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION ON THE PHONE
DON’T CARRY YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY CARD WITH YOU
DEPOSIT MAIL IN SECURED POST OFFICE BOXES, OR AT THE POST OFFICE
SHRED ALL OF YOUR RECEIPTS, AND PAPERS THAT HAVE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION
ONLY CARRY THE NUMBER OF IDENTIFICATION PIECES AND CREDIT CARDS THAT YOU’LL ACTUALLY NEED.
DON’T GIVE OUT YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT DAYS YOUR BILLS COME (IT’S NOT A FREE MONTH IF ONE DOESN’T SHOW UP!)
I hope you found this useful. For more in-depth information download a free copy of the Identity Theft Prevention and Response Manual.
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