When someone uses your personal information, like your name or social security number, without your permission to commit fraud, this is called identity theft. Identity theft is a very bad crime that is growing very quickly. Over nine million people are victims every year, and the price they pay for someone else's wrongdoing is not easy. Some victims may be able to get their problems fixed quickly, but others have to spend a lot of money and time to fix the damage done to their credit report.
Lessen the Chances of
You can protect yourself from identity theft by doing some things. Buy a paper shredder first. You should always shred any paper that has your social security number or any other personal information on it, like your name, address, credit card numbers, or anything else you wouldn't want someone else to know. Next, buy a mailbox with a lock. When no one is looking, it is just too easy for a thief to reach into your mailbox and take any mail that could contain personal information. Don't use your mailbox to send mail. Instead, go to the post office. Again, it's easy for someone who wants to steal your identity to get to. Keep all of your financial documents, like receipts, in a safe place. Watch out for people who call you and say they are from a financial institution. If they call you, just tell them you'll call them back and then only use the phone number on the statement. Never give your information, especially your social security number, to someone you don't know. You should only give your social security number to financial institutions, employers, government agencies, or when you are applying for credit. Monitoring your credit report is one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself. Having strange late payments or unpaid bills on your report is a sign that your identity has been stolen.
If Someone Steals Your Identity
Unfortunately, it will probably take a fight to get your credit back. There are, however, things that can help you along the way. The Federal Trade Commission's website, www.consumer.gov/idtheft, has a lot of information for people who have been a victim of identity theft. Make sure to write down every detail of any talk you have about the theft. Contact the credit bureaus and ask them to put a fraud alert in your file. Make sure that this alert will last for at least seven years. Also, get in touch with banks or creditors if affected accounts need to be closed or checks need to stop being paid. Report the theft of your ID to the police. This report can help stop a thief from putting false information about you on your credit report.
Quickly
Identity theft can do a lot of damage to your credit. If you find out that your identity has been stolen, you will want to act quickly. The longer you wait, the longer it will take to fix the problems. It's not fair that someone else's crime against you hurts your credit. Act quickly to help your credit score get back to where it should be.
