Identity Theft Protection And Prevention Program

How does an identity thief get your information. Well not all identity thief's are strangers. You may know them through a friend or an acquaintance. They may even be a relative! They may have looked through your wallet or purse while you were asleep, washing the dishes or using the restroom.

They may have used you good name to bribe or coerce a front desk person into giving more info.

It could be a disgruntled co-worker over in HR that has access to your records.

Other way identity theft occurs is when thief's go dumpster diving in records that are not shredded.

They use a skimmer or a skimming device a device that is a special storage used to store you credit card numbers.

Steal statements and pre-approved offers from your mailbox and used that information to obtain credit cards in your name and/or diverting the statements on a change of address to a different address.

Phishing schemes or scams that is they email or send you official looking emails that make it look like you need to supply credit card numbers, bank account or social security numbers.

So armed with all this information you may not even notice the theft until you get calls form creditors, or go to make a major purchase such as a car, home or check your credit report.

So what can you do to prevent identity theft? Identity theft preventions starts at home. Buy a shreader and shread all stuff that goes in your garbage that has any personal information.

If you have been asked by email or have been phoned think real hard about giving that information out if you have no initiated the contact. Often making a direct call to the institution with a number you already have will call the identity thief out.

Don't let you credit card or debit card out of site.

Don't allow people to have easy access to your wallet, purse or personal information. Buy a locked file cabinet for personal and financial statements.

Identity theft prevention will never truly eliminate the identity thief but it should reduce you chances of being an identity theft victim.