By now, you've probably read the articles, seen the news on television or the Internet. You may even know someone who has or even been a victim yourself. According to the FBI, this is the fastest growing crime not only in the United States but around the globe!
Some of the latest statistics provided by the Federal Trade Commission indicate approximately every 5.2 seconds someones identity has been stolen. If those numbers are anywhere close to being accurate consider this: if it takes you 10 minutes to read this article, 83 people will have had their identities stolen! It takes an average of 400 hours and $2,738.00 to "straighten" it out. Not only that, it eventually costs consumers like you and me and businesses we patronize, billions of dollars a year.
Compare someone trying to break into your home with trying to protect your Identity. An unlocked house is the easiest to gain access to. But what if your home was equipped with a professional alarm system, good lighting inside and out, and good quality door and window locks? An intruder will most likely move on to an easier target. Wouldn't you agree? The same holds true with your personal information.
Some of the best ways to protect your identity from falling into the wrong hands are also some of the easiest to implement. Understanding some of the methods an Identity Thief is able to steal your personal information can tip the scales in your favor. The following is just a few of the basic "locks" you can use to lessen the chance of becoming Victim #84 of identity theft. The first one's a no-brainer:
1). Shred everything. Shred anything that contains your identifying information on it. If it has your name, address or account number, shred it. That pre-approved credit card offer or those credit card "checks" that come with your monthly statement are like gold to a thief. Dumpster diving is still alive and well. A crook or someone hired by a crook(drug addict, homeless person, the unemployed) will rummage through your garbage looking for anything with your information on it. When in doubt, shred it anyway. Better safe than sorry.
2). Question anybody who is requesting personal information from you. You don't have to give out your Social Security number just because someone asks for it! A prospective employer might need your phone number but not your Social Security number or your birth date until he hires you. When a business asks for your Social Security number, ask them why they need it, what they plan to do with it, and how they plan to keep it safe. Of course, there are places that require your Social Security number - banks, motor vehicle departments, tax departments, etc. Remember, it's your number(s), you have the right to know.
3). Never give out personally identifying information over the phone. Con artists will often call and say they're with your bank or credit card company. The "purpose" of the call is to verify some information. In today's world, no legitimate financial institution works this way. These Con artists have been doing this for quite a while. The script is memorized and they sound official. What you need to do is ask specific questions such as, "Why are you asking me for this information?" "Why do you need to verify this?" Or say something like, "If this is about some charges, give me the list and I'll verify them myself." More often than not, when you turn the tables and take control of the conversation by asking questions, the audio actor will hang up. Call your institution and ask if someone has called you for the purpose of a "verification". When they say, "No", congratulations, you just prevented an intruder from entering your House of Identity!
When it really comes down to protecting your Identity, you can't rely on the government, you can't rely on the banks, and you can't rely on law enforcement. If you want to protect your identity, you must become proactive.
Be safe and stay informed.
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