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
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