Protecting your identity
Ranked #1,066 in Internet, #58,433 overall
Protect yourself and your finances!
One of the biggest concerns for consumers today is protecting their identity. All someone has to do is get your social security number in order to "steal" your identity. That is why it is so important today in this fast paced world that you protect your identity by making sure that your credit card number and your social security number are kept private.
How does your information get stolen?
There are many ways that a criminal can steal your personal information.
- Going through your garbage. As disgusting as this sounds, this is how many criminals get your personal information from old bills or documents that might have your social security number on them.
- Through bogus emails. You might have seen emails that look legitimate but in reality they are sent by people who want your personal information.
- Call up companies and pretend to be you. They will call up banks, credit unions and other places where you might have done business and pretend to be you.
- They just steal the information by robbing your house or have others steal the information in the same fashion.
Millions are affected by identity theft
9 million American have their identities stolen each year.
What do they do with your information?
Once the criminals have your personal information there are many things that they can do to take advantage of you and make your life miserable.
- Open a new credit card. They will open a new credit card, use it numerous times running up a big bill and of course not pay the bill, thus hurting your credit rating.
- Use your name to get phone or utilities services
- Write bad checks from the fraudulent account that they opened in your name.
- Receive an ATM card and withdraw money from your account
- Get a driver's license
- If they get arrested and are released they may give your name. when they don't appear at court the police will come looking for you.
The three credit bureaus
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TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289
www.transunion.com
Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790 -
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
www.equifax.com
P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241 -
Experian:
1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
www.experian.com
P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013
Common Online Identity Fraud
- Phishing is where you get an email from what looks like a legitimate bank or online company but it really isn't. Good email security software can usually pick it out.
- Spyware like other viruses are cleverly put on your hard drive and are difficult to remove. They can obtain some of your valuable information. Once again anti-virus software can help with this problem. Make sure to keep your anti-virus software up to date.
- Be careful about clicking on ads and links even if they look harmless they may end up directing you to a site that could put a bug on your PC.
- Spoofing is where someone pretends to be someone else in order to get information.
How long can the effects of identity theft last?
This is probably one of the first questions that come to mind after becoming a victim of identity theft. Unfortunately it is also very difficult to answer. According to FTC" Victims of identity theft should monitor financial records for several months after they discover the crime. Victims should review their credit reports once every three months in the first year of the theft, and once a year thereafter. Stay alert for other signs of identity theft. "
What should I do when I have found out that my identity was stolen?
There are steps that need to be taken as soon as you know that your identity has been stolen.
- Place a fraud alert with the 3 credit bureaus.
- If you know which account has been used the identity thief then close that account
- File a complaint with the FTC
- File a police report
Protect your SSN!
Be very protective of your social security number! Shred any document that has the social security number on it. Don't just through it away.
Identity theft can be prevented!
Blog Posts from Google
- Federal blunders enable ID theft
- The file is widely available on the Internet and is known as a go-to resource for identity thieves. The master file erroneously adds information for about 1000 living people every month, apparently due in part to data-entry mistakes.
- Riverview Resident Pleads Guilty to Filing False Tax Claims, Identity Theft
- Arswaya Ralph, 33, of Riverview, pled guilty May 31 to filing a false claim with the Internal Revenue Service and identity theft, according to a press release from the US Attorney's Office. She faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison ...
- BHPD Chief Alleged Victim of Identity Theft
- He is charged with 71 felony counts, including identity theft, false personation, wiretapping, cutting a utility line, attempted cutting of a utility line and unauthorized disruption or denial of computer services. Others named as alleged victims in ...
Government Information on identity theft
The government has a website about Identity theft. You might want to check it out.
LifeLock Identity Theft Protection Starter Kit
Amazon Price: $0.93 (as of 06/03/2012)
what do you think...
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Hypersapien
May 24, 2012 @ 5:04 pm | delete
- Good info. I have a similar lens on identity theft, so it's always good to see others spreading the gospel on this as well.
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goo2eyes
Oct 19, 2011 @ 3:47 am | delete
- i guess someone is running around with my name somewhere. i lost my original birth certificate long time ago. someone is also running around with my face. my husband said that there was a lady in malaysia who looked just like me. i asked him to take a photo with her but he didn't. it is not ethical in to ask an unescorted lady for such thing. i would not allow if someone asked me.
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YourFirstTime
Jun 30, 2011 @ 12:59 am | delete
- It's scary what can be done with just a small bit of info. Thanks!
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hamamhize
Jun 28, 2011 @ 10:01 am | delete
- Education is often the best prevention when it comes to identity crimes. One way to stay up-to-date on identity theft trends and cases is by visiting the Federal Trade Commission's ID Theft Site
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Demaw
Jun 18, 2011 @ 11:00 pm | delete
- Good info, it's a shame that businesses still put people's unencrypted information on laptops that can be stolen or compromised through thumb drives.
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by davidstillwagon
Hi, I'm David Stillwagon. I live in Atlanta with my wife and son. I blog on health and age issues.
I am originally from Uniontown Pa. I have lived in...
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It's None of Your Business: A Complete Guide to Protecting Your Privacy, Identity and Assets (4th Edition)
Amazon Price: $126.06 (as of 06/03/2012)
