Yes, they are determined to steal the identity of someone. But they would much prefer to go after those people who are easy targets. Take yourself off the easy hit list.
The first thing you should do is to get a free credit report. The report will show your existing creditors. Get the article entitled “Get A Truly Free Credit Report Every Four Months" or go to the annualcreditreport.com website and order your free report. If you do not recognize a creditor, do something immediately. Contact the credit bureaus fraud department and your local police.
If you feel the need to monitor your credit report you can find resources to do so at the http://credit-reporting-agencies-bureaus-agency-credit-reports.com/ website.
The next thing you should do is to lock up your personal papers. Secure all of your financial and personal information papers like bank statements, checks, credit card statements, pension reports, tax returns, birth certificates and related documents. Keep them out of sight.
When you dispose of personal papers you should use a shredder. Until you can get one, rip up the stuff and dispose of the remnants securely.
Secure your passwords. Everyone has a password of some kind. Write them down but do not keep them out in the open. Lock them up. When choosing passwords you should not use obvious things like birth dates or names of your spouse, children or maiden names. Passwords should contain both letters and numbers and at least one capital letter.
One of my pet annoyances is receiving credit card offers in the mail. Much worse is getting blank checks for credit cards. Stop that nonsense by calling 1-888-5-OPT-OUT to get your name of their list.
Do not use automatic logins to computer networks. Imagine how much easier it would be for identity thieves to do damage with access to your email account. Online business is a great way time saver, but it is far too reliant upon email notifications as a safety feature.
When someone calls or emails you, do not give out your information. If you are buying something over the phone or internet you should be going to them. Be certain the number you are calling and the website you go to is the correct one.
When you leave home carry only what documents you need. A driver’s license, one credit card and some cash is all you usually need. Remember what you take with you in case it is taken from you or lost.
Be aware that you should keep your credit card in your possession or view at all times. When you hand your credit over to a cashier, keep it in sight and be sure it is swiped only once. You may be at risk if you give your credit card to a restaurant waiter. Either pay cash or accept the risk.
You will rest easier if you take these basic precautions.
That's why companies like Pay Pal and eBay are so careful to warn you abut clicking a link in any email that doesn't include your user name. That's why your banks warn you not to answer an email, but to log in to your account at the bank website if you have a question.
And that's why you must never give out personal information over the telephone unless you are the one who instigated the call and you know you're talking to the right person.
But every day, someone is fooled by what is now called "Phishing." Every day my email contains at least one message that, if answered, could give some thief my personal information. I know better than to answer, but not everyone does, and they become victims.
Telephone scams rank right up there with phishing. One of the newer ones involves the caller telling you that you failed to show up for jury duty. When you tell them you didn't know you had been called, they assure you that they can help... right after you give them your information. Others call and pretend to be your friendly bank officer, just updating records.
Add to that the fact that almost everything about you is on line somewhere, and you can see that a determined crook can access everything including your account numbers, your Social Security number, your date of birth, spouse's name, address, and even your medical records.
Talented hackers can get in almost any database in the world.
And then there's carelessness - remember just a few months ago when the Veteran's Administration announced that thousands of names had been lost when a careless employee lost a laptop computer?
So what can you do?
Never give out information, either on the phone or on the computer. Keep your credit cards in a safe place, and never let them out of your sight when you're paying for a purchase. Read your credit card bills as soon as they come in, and verify that all the charges are yours.
Finally, keep a close watch on your credit report. To be safe, you should check it monthly. Then, if you see something unusual, you can take immediate steps to stop the thief in his or her tracks.
Both Richard Meeuwsen Meeuwsen & John Rasor are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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