Identity Theft Prevention
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5 Rules You Can Use To Prevent Identity Theft
Identity theft is a huge and growing problem. Everytime I go the ATM I check my balances to make sure that no evil mischief has been directed my way. I used to simply toss credit card offers into the trash. I now use a shredder. It's just that bad. There's lots of people who live by perpetrating evil deeds. Rather than working hard. Getting a college degree, and earning an honest living, they would rather lie cheat and steal for profits. Here, we've noted a few things you can do to protect yourself from these social and financial parasites.
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5 Practical Things You Can Do To Prevent Identity Theft
5 Rules To Prevent Identity Theft
Rule #1
Don't carry personal information such as your Social Security card, PIN number or birth certificate in your wallet. Also, don't carry a photocopy of your important personal account numbers and document numbers in your wallet. Rather, secure personal information in your home.
Rule #2
Don't give out your personal information over the phone, through the mail, or on the Internet unless you've initiated the contact or you are certain you know who you are dealing with.
Rule #3
Give out your SSN only when absolutely necessary, and ask to use other types of identifiers. If your state uses your SSN as your driver's license number, ask to substitute another number. Do the same if your health insurance company uses your SSN as your policy number.
Also for online financial accounts. If you open an account and the default username is your social security number, you should change it as soon as possible.
Rule #4
Each time you receive blank checks from credit card companies, rather than throwing them in the trash, like I used to do, shred them instead. The same goes for all banking statements that contain account numbers and check numbers. Believe it or not, people not only will steal your trash, they comb through public trash bins and even land fills looking for "good trash".
Fellowes 32057 Powershred P-57Cs Shredder
Rule #5
Finally, monitoring your Experian®, TransUnion® and Equifax® credit reports on a daily basis and checking them on a regular basis can help detect potential identity theft early. I check my credit report at least once per week. Some of the stuff that I was able to dispute was just pure garbage. Someone put somethings on my report that were pure bunk.
It used to be that you had to write a letter to file a dispute. But when you subscribe to the credit bureaus online, you can write 2- 5 lines disputing the problem and if the creditor does not respond, you can get the items removed. Many people are not even aware of how easy it is to dispute items once you sign-up with the credit bureaus.
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Don't carry personal information such as your Social Security card, PIN number or birth certificate in your wallet. Also, don't carry a photocopy of your important personal account numbers and document numbers in your wallet. Rather, secure personal information in your home.
Rule #2
Don't give out your personal information over the phone, through the mail, or on the Internet unless you've initiated the contact or you are certain you know who you are dealing with.
Rule #3
Give out your SSN only when absolutely necessary, and ask to use other types of identifiers. If your state uses your SSN as your driver's license number, ask to substitute another number. Do the same if your health insurance company uses your SSN as your policy number.
Also for online financial accounts. If you open an account and the default username is your social security number, you should change it as soon as possible.
Rule #4
Each time you receive blank checks from credit card companies, rather than throwing them in the trash, like I used to do, shred them instead. The same goes for all banking statements that contain account numbers and check numbers. Believe it or not, people not only will steal your trash, they comb through public trash bins and even land fills looking for "good trash".
Fellowes 32057 Powershred P-57Cs Shredder
Rule #5
Finally, monitoring your Experian®, TransUnion® and Equifax® credit reports on a daily basis and checking them on a regular basis can help detect potential identity theft early. I check my credit report at least once per week. Some of the stuff that I was able to dispute was just pure garbage. Someone put somethings on my report that were pure bunk.
It used to be that you had to write a letter to file a dispute. But when you subscribe to the credit bureaus online, you can write 2- 5 lines disputing the problem and if the creditor does not respond, you can get the items removed. Many people are not even aware of how easy it is to dispute items once you sign-up with the credit bureaus.
Get Equifax Score Watch Now!
Identity Theft Is The Number One Crime In The United States
Identity theft is the No. 1 crime in the U.S., according to the International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators. The simplest form, mostly used by beginners, is to ask the DMV for a duplicate license in someone else's name. Identity thieves simply tell the DMV clerk that they've lost their license or that it was stolen, then provide someone else's illegally obtained information. It's a simple con to pull off. As for the victims, there's nothing simple about it -- their credit will be ruined as checks start bouncing and new credit card accounts are opened in their name.
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Get Equifax Score Watch Now!
Books On Protecting Your Credit
What Can You Do If Someone Has Abused Your Social Security Number?
If someone has abused your Social Security number or other personal information to create credit or other problems for you, Social Security cannot resolve these problems. You should contact the Federal Trade Commission for help.
You can contact the Federal Trade Commission by:
* Internet- www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft
* Telephone- 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338)
* TTY- 1-866-653-4261
* You also should monitor your credit report periodically. Free credit reports are available online at www.annualcreditreport.com.
/www.creditsecretsreport.net
Click Here
You can contact the Federal Trade Commission by:
* Internet- www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft
* Telephone- 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338)
* TTY- 1-866-653-4261
* You also should monitor your credit report periodically. Free credit reports are available online at www.annualcreditreport.com.
/www.creditsecretsreport.net
Click Here
by CollegeForKatie
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