It's one of the crimes that's growing the fastest in the country, and most of the people who are targeted don't know until a long time after the fact. Identity theft is what we are talking about. Today, information moves faster than ever, and that includes information about you. If your personal information gets into the wrong hands, it could be used to get credit cards, loans, or open accounts.
Somewhere, someone could be using your good name to do something bad, and you'll be the one who has to answer for it. In 2004, at least one person in 3.6 million American homes had their identity stolen. Don't let it happen to you.
Prevention is the most important thing.
The best way to stop someone from stealing your identity is to stop it from happening in the first place. Checking your credit report is important because you could be a victim right now and not know it for months. The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act was changed so that you can get a free copy of your full credit report once every 12 months. Take advantage. Start by going to annualcreditreport.com.
Once you have your credit report, look it over carefully to see if anything seems wrong. Putting a fraud alert on all of your credit reports is also a good idea. Equifax (800-525-6285), TransUnion (800-680-7289) and Experian (888-397-3742) will all put a free alert on your credit report that tells companies to call you if someone tries to open an account in your name or change an existing one. The alert will work for 90 days, so set a reminder for every three months to call and change it.
Next, think about the passwords you use to get into your credit card, bank account, and other financial information. Is it the last four digits of your Social Security number or your mother's maiden name? If so, make a change. Identity thieves are very smart, and a simple password is easy for them to figure out. Think of something you can remember that has a mix of capital letters, lowercase letters, and numbers. If an institution asks for your Social Security number or your mother's maiden name, ask for another way to identify yourself.
Also, keep your personal information safe at home, at work, and when you travel. Don't leave your wallet or important receipts lying around the house or office. It would be easy for someone to pick it up, write down a few numbers, and put it back down without you knowing.
Someone else's trash is someone else's treasure.
When it comes to identity theft, these words have never been more true. Thieves will do anything to get your personal information, even if it means going through your trash to find the numbers they need. Buy and use a shredder. Credit applications, receipts, bank statements, insurance forms, and any other papers that have your personal information on them should always be shredded before being thrown away. And you can stop those unsolicited credit applications that keep showing up in your mailbox every day. To stop getting these offers, call 1-888-5-OPTOUT.
If your mailbox is locked, you should be able to get your mail. If you don't have one, ask your mail carrier how to get one. Never put your outgoing mail in a mailbox that you can't lock. If you need to, you can put it in a collection box or take it to the post office.
