Identity Theft Is A Serious Crime

Identity Theft is a serious crime that is growing each year. If you're a victim of identity theft you may spend months, even years, trying to repair a ruined credit history. A seriously damaged credit report can compromise your chances of getting a new job, a bank loan, insurance or even rental housing. It's even possible to be arrested for a crime you didn't commit if someone else has used your identity to break the law.

Unfortunately, many of the methods that thieves use to steal identities are beyond your control to guard against. Although it's rare, even store clerks have been known to use their position to pass along information to identity thieves.

Fortunately, there are some measures you can take, however, that will make it harder for a thief to steal your identity.

Protect Your Credit Card Number When Making Purchases

After you make a purchase and your credit or debit card has been swiped through a credit card terminal, check to make sure that the printed receipt hides all but the last 4 digits of your credit card account number (usually there will be Xs in place of the first 12 digits). Some terminals still print receipts that show all 16 digits of an account number, and may even include the expiration date as well. After your card is swiped, you're permitted by law to hide the first 12 digits of your account number on the copy of the receipt that the vendor keeps. Use any marking pen that will do the job.

When you go to a restaurant, it's especially important to make sure that the first 12 digits of your credit card number are hidden on your receipt. You might be in the habit of signing it and then leaving the restaurant's copy on the table after your meal. An identity thief can easily steal the signed receipt before the waitperson comes back around to pick it up from the table. Don't take any chances.

Do You Really Need To Give Your Social Security Number?

Another important way that you can guard against identity theft is to avoid giving out your social security number unless it's absolutely required. Although you need to share your social security number when you apply for credit or for a bank account, sometimes a store or an organization will want to use it as an ID number, simply to identify you within their system. This is a common practice even though the law says that social security numbers aren't to be used as ID numbers. In these situations, use your judgment. There's usually an alternative if you ask.

Destroy Documents That Contain Sensitive Personal Information

Buy a paper shredder and use it to destroy documents you're throwing away which contain personal information such as credit card numbers, social security numbers, phone numbers and dates of birth. This is important to do both at home and at work. Identity thieves aren't above going through someone's trash to find valuable personal information that can help them obtain credit in your name.

If The Worst Happens

If you do become a victim of identity theft, take the following steps immediately:

• Contact your credit card companies, close your accounts and ask to have new cards issued to you.

• Place a fraud alert on your file with any one of the three major credit bureaus. The other two will be notified automatically.

• File a police report. You may need it to show to creditors as proof of the crime.

• File a complaint with the FTC, which maintains a database of identity theft cases used by law enforcement agencies for their investigations.

 

Then Download Your Free Copy of Identity Thief : The Road Back to Recovery

 

 

Identity Theft Secrets

BoNY 4.5 Million Consumer's Data Loss

View Original Article Sat, 31 May 2008 14:40:51 -0500
This just in from the "when will they ever learn" file. The Bank of New York (BNY Mellon) waited 8 weeks after the Connecticut legal requirement to inform the public of this very serious data loss...

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BoNY 4.5 Million Consumer's Data Loss [Flickr]

View Original Article Sat, 31 May 2008 14:31:57 -0500

IdTheftSecrets posted a photo:

The Bank of New York (BNY Mellon) waited 8 weeks
after the Connecticut legal requirement to inform the
public of this very serious data loss involving personal
information which was unencrypted.

Discover the Shocking Truth to Identity Theft

Identity Theft Hits Lifelock CEO From His Own Ads

View Original Article Mon, 26 May 2008 22:29:31 -0500
In response to dares posed by the CEO of Lifelock, an Arizona firm which has run ads featuring his Social Security Number (SSN), an instance of identity theft fraud was successfully perpetrated...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit http://idtheftsecrets.blogspot.com/ for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Identity Theft - Google News

DMX Charged with Identity Theft - San Francisco Chronicle

View Original Article Wed, 23 Jul 2008 22:25:33 GMT

San Francisco Chronicle

DMX Charged with Identity Theft San Francisco Chronicle,  USA - 11 hours ago The star -- real name Earl Simmons -- was charged in Arizona on Tuesday with one count of theft and one count of stealing someone else's identity. ...

Former bank teller pleads guilty to identity theft - Ft. Washington Montgomery Newspapers

View Original Article Thu, 24 Jul 2008 07:05:49 GMT

Former bank teller pleads guilty to identity theft Ft. Washington Montgomery Newspapers, PA - 2 hours ago A former teller at the Lafayette Hill branch of the Wachovia Bank has admitted his involvement in an identity theft ring that stole $43000 from bank ...

Facts About Identity Theft - American Chronicle

View Original Article Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:27:59 GMT

Facts About Identity Theft American Chronicle, CA - 18 hours ago Identity theft is the quickest growing crime in the nation. It is said to be the number one fraud crime at this time. The facts of how widespread this crime ...

Yahoo! News Search Results for identity theft

Man gets five years for identity theft (El Paso Times)

View Original Article Thu, 24 Jul 2008 06:20:11 GMT
ID theft sentence: EL PASO -- A man was sentenced to the maximum five years in prison for identity theft by U.S. District Court Judge Frank Montalvo, the U.S. attorney's office said Wednesday.

Former bank teller pleads guilty to identity theft (The Colonial)

View Original Article Thu, 24 Jul 2008 07:29:36 GMT
A former teller at the Lafayette Hill branch of the Wachovia Bank has admitted his involvement in an identity theft ring that stole $43,000 from bank customer accounts.

Identity theft suspect arrested, hit 2 Phoenix Alltel stores (ABC 15 Phoenix)

View Original Article Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:52:00 GMT
Police arrested an identity theft suspect at a Phoenix hotel on Wednesday. Delbert Peck allegedly used false social security numbers to open cellular phone accounts.