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Identity Theft Quick Tips
Identity theft is a growing problem
The news is full of stories about identity theft and the problems it can cause. The problems are real, but you can easily avoid being a victim by taking a few simple precautions.
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Identity theft is a problem that affects everyone. You can help stop it.
The problem of identity theft is a growing one. As computers and electronic commerce become more and more ubiquitous, the likelihood that someone will steal your personal information to use it for a criminal activity becomes greater. It is quite possible that someone who gets his or her hands on your financial information could run up debts of $50,000 or more without you even knowing about it. Should you find out, it could take months or years to straighten out. In the meantime, your credit score could be ruined, and you could find yourself without a way to buy a house or a car. You may even find yourself unable to land a job, all because someone pretended to be you and spent a bunch of money.
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What can you do? Here are a few quick tips that will help:
- Check your credit report several times a year. You can get a copy of your credit report for free at annualcreditreport.com. Not only that, but you can get one report for free per year from each of the credit bureaus. So that will let you check your report every four months, if you like. Scan it carefully to see if there is any activity there that you may not have known about - a new credit card or home loan or auto loan or any one of a number of financial transactions that someone may have conducted in your name. If you find something unusual, contact the police and the credit bureau immediately.
- Do not provide personal financial information over the Internet unless you initiated the transaction. That means it’s OK to give your credit card number to an online store if you have decided to make a purchase. DO NOT provide such information to anyone or any business that sends you e-mail asking for it. This is a common ploy, known as phishing, that is designed specifically to steal your personal information. Don’t fall for it.
- Do not carry your Social Security card with you. You will rarely need it; most adults never show the card to anyone in their lives. But if you lose it, the information on it could be invaluable to a thief. Put it in a safe place and leave it there.
- Destroy, by shredding, any financial documents that you no longer need. This also applies to those convenience checks that your credit card company sends you every month and any preapproved credit card applications you may receive in the mail. If you don’t need it, shred it.
- If someone asks you for your Social Security number, ask if it is really necessary. Many businesses will ask for it as a matter of course, but will not actually use it for anything. If that’s the case, decline to provide it.
- Watch out for your mail. People often steal mail out of mailboxes to obtain personal information. That applies to both incoming and outgoing mail.
A little diligence can go a long way towards identity theft, and it’s a lot less trouble than digging your way out of the problems you will encounter should someone steal your personal information. It pays to be cautious.
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