22nd Oct 2008
Identity Theft Prevention
Identity thefts have become more of a modern day hazard than it was earlier when fraudsters could only pick up bits and pieces of scrap receipts of yours to trace some of your personal information. It was mostly a bit of carelessness on your part—not destroying bits and pieces of paper—that made them access your identity details.
Technological advances have made identity thefts a major and growing crime in the United States where, according the FBI, millions have already been victims coast to coast. Fraudsters can pick up or hack into your personal information like credit card, social security numbers or even your bank account details. With a bit of ingenuous trickery, they could wipe off your money, polish away your life’s savings or retirement benefits, and take huge loans in your name without you knowing about it.
In most cases, victims get to know about their identity being stolen only when credit agencies come knocking through phone calls or mails. What happens is you can be liable for criminal activities committed in your name, using your personal details without you knowing about it.
To the credit agencies, you are only innocent after you are proven not guilty and that involves visits to the attorney and legal battles to get the fraudster and if you are lucky enough or if the attorney is smart enough, your stolen money back.
The best alternatives lie in preventing such a thing happening before it becomes too late.
Getting your important papers containing pre-approved credit applications and financial information with your personal details shredded costs $60-$70 one time as it is the price of a shredder. Be on your watch while using ATM’s, phone cards from shoulder surfers who might pry on your pin and password information.
It is wiser to get all checks delivered to your banker rather than your home address and use US Mailbox or US Post Office to drop off mails instead of your home mail box. Acid wash can change the name of the check recipient and mail thefts are quite common.
Always check if a change of address was filed if you do not receive a billing statement or the credit card you applied for within the appropriate time or date. Cancel credit cards not used for the past 6 months as open credit attracts fraudsters. Try and get a headshot of yours on your business and credit cards for easy identification.
Get your memory clock up and running. It pays to memorize passwords and social security numbers.
Do not part with any personal information details to anyone posing as representatives or grantors unless you cross verify old contact information with the new ones they provide. Usually social security numbers are not required always and you should explain why they should not be parted with and insist on other non-personal identification.
Identity thefts have become more of a modern day hazard than it was earlier when fraudsters could only pick up bits and pieces of scrap receipts of yours to trace some of your personal information. It was mostly a bit of carelessness on your part—not destroying bits and pieces of paper—that made them access your identity details.
Technological advances have made identity thefts a major and growing crime in the United States where, according the FBI, millions have already been victims coast to coast. Fraudsters can pick up or hack into your personal information like credit card, social security numbers or even your bank account details. With a bit of ingenuous trickery, they could wipe off your money, polish away your life’s savings or retirement benefits, and take huge loans in your name without you knowing about it.
In most cases, victims get to know about their identity being stolen only when credit agencies come knocking through phone calls or mails. What happens is you can be liable for criminal activities committed in your name, using your personal details without you knowing about it.
To the credit agencies, you are only innocent after you are proven not guilty and that involves visits to the attorney and legal battles to get the fraudster and if you are lucky enough or if the attorney is smart enough, your stolen money back.
The best alternatives lie in preventing such a thing happening before it becomes too late.
Getting your important papers containing pre-approved credit applications and financial information with your personal details shredded costs $60-$70 one time as it is the price of a shredder. Be on your watch while using ATM’s, phone cards from shoulder surfers who might pry on your pin and password information.
It is wiser to get all checks delivered to your banker rather than your home address and use US Mailbox or US Post Office to drop off mails instead of your home mail box. Acid wash can change the name of the check recipient and mail thefts are quite common.
Always check if a change of address was filed if you do not receive a billing statement or the credit card you applied for within the appropriate time or date. Cancel credit cards not used for the past 6 months as open credit attracts fraudsters. Try and get a headshot of yours on your business and credit cards for easy identification.
Get your memory clock up and running. It pays to memorize passwords and social security numbers.
Do not part with any personal information details to anyone posing as representatives or grantors unless you cross verify old contact information with the new ones they provide. Usually social security numbers are not required always and you should explain why they should not be parted with and insist on other non-personal identification.
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Identity Theft Prevention 
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