Identity theft is the fastest growing criminal action in the 20th Century, replacing illegal drug sales.

How Big is this Problem?

Banks, credit card companies and companies that home servers storing passwords or other sensitive information all report “break-ins”through Trojan viruses or other online hacking techniques – resulting within the loss of millions of pieces of information. Instances of lost information are employees selling it and other lax protection measures resulting in thieves getting access for your identity.

Identity Thieves Want

- Your Name
- Date of Birth
- House Address
- Telephone Quantities
- Social Security Amount
- Driver’s License Number
- Credit card Numbers
- CW2 Protection Code (the amount on the back of your credit card)
- Your Credit score Statement
- ATM Charge cards
- Telephone Calling Cards
- Mortgage Details

Exactly where Are They Obtaining Your Information?

- Banks
- Credit-Reference Agencies
- Retailers
- Charge card Networks
- Data-Brokerage Companies
- Payment Processing Companies
- Telephone Companies
- Schools
- Your Employer
- Doctors, Clinics and Wellness Departments
- Government Agencies

There are other effective techniques:

- Dumpster Diving
- Mail Theft
- Retail Theft
- “Phishing”/pretexting/pretending
- Purse/Wallet Theft

What are Thieves Utilizing Your Info For?

- Making charges for your current credit cards
- Opening new credit charge cards inside your name
- Getting phone or utilities turned on
- Withdrawing money from your existing bank accounts
- Employment purposes
- Driver’s Licenses
- Tax Fraud
- Social Support advantages
- Student loans
- Business or Personal loans
- Health care
- Home loan loans/leases
- Auto loans
- Using your ID when caught committing a crime

How Can You Guard Your self?

- Maintain a photocopy of the credit score charge cards, bank account numbers and expense account quantities inside a secure
location
- Maintain your credit card receipts
- Set a “fraud alert” on all your credit reports
- If you apply for credit score and also the greeting card doesn’t arrive on time, call the greeting card issuer
- Select hard PIN quantities or passwords. (Don’t use birth dates, your mother’s maiden name, etc.)
- In no way give individual information to anybody who sends you an email, a letter or calls you asking for it
- Shred individual info
- Don’t use the ATM machine if someone is watching you
- Pay attention to what’s heading on around you – cell phones often have cameras in them. If someone is standing by you having a cell telephone while you are entering a PIN number, block their view
- Review your bills every month. If there’s something you do not remember, call the creditor.
- Examine your credit statement at least once a year
- Shop your cancelled checks safely.
- Do not leave your purse in plain sight when driving
- Keep your valuables locked in the trunk or glove box when driving
- Make all personal info on your pc password protected
- Do not carry info about your PIN numbers, passwords and account numbers in your purse or wallet

Warning Signs that Your Identity Has been Stolen:

- A loan application is denied, or you’re refused extended credit requests
- You are contacted by a debt-collection agency
- Your purse or wallet has been stolen, or your home broken into
- Unfamiliar action on your credit score report

What to do if it Happens to You:

- If your purse or wallet is stolen, call the police
- Contact your financial institution, credit card and other credit score extending companies and statement the theft
- Close accounts
- Contact the credit-reporting companies
- Have fraudulent activity removed immediately and monitor your credit score statement every 90 days for the next 12 months
- Put everything in writing
- File a report using the Federal Trade Commission
- Change passwords on your existing accounts and produce new ones for new accounts

Discover identity theft protection. There are no guarantees you are able to keep your information safe, by taking proactive steps to guard your self, you are able to reduce your chances of getting an “identity crisis”.

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