The Doors and Windows are locked - But.
Your identity can so easily be stolen By
someone taking your name, credit card numbers, social security
number or other types of information, and then using them to
obtain services or credit in your name. It can ruin your credit
and invade your privacy. This is legal information, not legal
advice. For legal advice, you should always consult an attorney.
But here is what you can do today: Order a copy of your credit
report from each of the three major credit bureaus. Place
passwords on your credit card, bank and phone accounts. Avoid
using easily available information like your mother's maiden
name, your birth date, etc. When opening new accounts, you may
find that many businesses still have a line on their
applications for your mother's maiden name. Use a password
instead. Secure personal information in your home, especially if
you have roommates, employ outside help or are having service
work done in your home. Ask about information security
procedures in your workplace. Find out who has access to your
personal information and verify that records are kept in a
secure location. Ask about the disposal procedures for those
records as well. Maintain Vigilance By checking your credit
report on a regular basis you can catch mistakes and fraud
before they wreak havoc on your personal finances. Don't
underestimate the importance of this step. One of the most
common ways that consumers find out that they're victims of
identity theft is when they try to make a major purchase, like a
house or a car. The deal can be lost or delayed while the credit
report mess is straightened out. Knowing what's in your credit
report allows you to fix problems before they jeopardize a major
financial transaction. Don't give out personal information on
the phone, through the mail or over the Internet unless you've
initiated the contact or are sure you know who you're dealing
with. Identity thieves may pose as representatives of banks,
Internet service providers (ISPs) and even government agencies
to get you to reveal your , mother's maiden name, account
numbers and other identifying information. Before you share any
personal information, confirm that you are dealing with a
legitimate organization. Guard your mail and trash from theft.
To thwart an identity thief who may pick through your trash or
recycling bins to capture your personal information, tear or
shred your charge receipts, copies of credit applications,
insurance forms, physician statements, checks and bank
statements, expired charge cards that you're discarding, and
credit offers you get in the mail. Before revealing any
personally identifying information (for example, on an
application), find out how it will be used and secured, and
whether it will be shared with others. Ask if you have a choice
about the use of your information. Can you choose to have it
kept confidential? Don't carry your SSN card; leave it in a
secure place. Give your SSN only when absolutely necessary. Ask
to use other types of identifiers when possible. If your state
uses your SSN as your driver's license number, ask to substitute
another number. Carry only the identification information and
the number of credit and debit cards that you'll actually need.
Pay attention to your billing cycles. Follow up with creditors
if your bills don't arrive on time. A missing credit card bill
could mean an identity thief has taken over your account and
changed your billing address to cover his tracks. Be wary of
promotional scams. Identity thieves may use phony offers to get
you to give them your personal information. Keep your purse or
wallet in a safe place at work.
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