The scary truth about identity theft
Identity theft is an increasing crime in America, affecting more and more people every year. A recent influx of pirate attacks targeting popular retailers and financial institutions across the country had a hand in this area. The FBI recently estimated that 80% of American adults had their data exposed in some way through a data breach in the past year. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, identity theft increased by 33% between 2005 and 2010 and a staggering 16.6 million US citizens have been victims of identity theft in 2012. Considering these statistics to mind, it is more than likely that you will face some sort of identity theft in your life.
How can you keep your identity?
Do not hide under the covers identity thieves! Instead, follow these tips to help keep yourself from becoming the next victim of someone.
1. Keep the gory details out social media. It is tempting to post every little thing on Facebook or Twitter, but identity thieves often start here. The more you reveal about yourself online, the easier it is for a criminal to steal your identity and obtain access to your identity. Be strict about who you add as a friend on social networks, which limits to family and friends. Have fun with your Twitter and Instagram feeds, but think about how much you share, and what he might say foreigners about your life. Remember, most social networks offer privacy settings that let you control who sees what information. Use them!
2. Do not let anyone get their claws on your social security number. Your social security number is the most dangerous piece of information an identity thief may know. Having access to this number gives them the power to open accounts and take out loans or mortgages in your name, steal your identity from your bank and other financial institutions and more. Do not carry your Social Security card in your wallet. Instead, keep your in a safe place, such as a personal safe, and do not give the number freely when asked.
3. Stay on top of your accounts. Most credit cards and banks offer online services to customers. Take this so you can monitor your accounts on a regular basis. Even if you do not check every day, a careful look through your statements once a week will make it more likely for you to spot something sinister. If someone steals your credit card information, the sooner you can catch them before they go on shopping spree, the better. In the case of violations of the credit card, where large amounts of data are sold online in 'batches', criminals often will test the cards to see if they work by placing a small, harmless load. If you are in the habit of monitoring your accounts on a regular basis, you will probably be able to spot this kind of thing and get ahold of your credit card company or bank immediately -. Stop the criminal in his tracks
4. Destroy the evidence - shred all your unwanted papers. Unfortunately, identity thieves are not above digging in your garbage to find documents with your personal information to steal. Think about how often you receive offers of pre-approved credit card or billing statements in the mail. Did you just throw them? Even if you tear a determined criminal can collect the papers to get what they want. To fully protect yourself, it is a good investment to pick a shredder for your home or office. You want to look for a machine that cross cuts, which will ensure the document is completely destroyed and unable to be restored back together. You can also significantly reduce the amount of paper you have to throw the switch to electronic invoicing when companies or services to offer.
5. Bring professionals with protection against identity theft. horror movie fans know that when you want to get rid of things that go bump in the night for good, you need to bring in someone who knows what they are doing. identity theft protection services are like ghostbusters for your identity. These services monitor the black market and other criminal hot spots to ensure that your personal information is not sold, traded or used by criminals. Many services also monitor your credit reports and provide reports and credit scores updated so you can be aware of what is happening at all times. Read our identity theft protection critical to know more about the world-class services.
Mal never stays dead, but you can do your best to protect yourself when it comes to the horrors of identity theft by following these tips. Stay updated on the latest news and to learn more helpful hints by following our blog protect against identity theft.