Identity Theft Articles

This year with the combination of financial crisis and holiday pressures identity theft is likely to increase. Identity theft impacts more than 8 million Americans each year, costing them thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours to resolve. Although identity theft can never be fully prevented there are some steps to greatly reduce your risks.

Here are some steps you can take to protect yourself:

1. Check your account balances and activity regularly; monitor your billing cycles for missing bills or statements.
2. Use email-based account “alerts” to monitor transfers, payments, low balances, withdrawals and review your credit report.
3. Protect your Social Security number; give your number only when absolutely necessary and ask to use other types of identifiers instead.
4. Treat your trash and mail carefully; shred your charge receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance forms, physician statements, checks and bank statements.
5. Be on guard when using the Internet, as it can leave you vulnerable to online scammers, identity thieves and more.
6. Select intricate passwords; avoid using easily available information like your mother’s maiden name or your birth date. Combinations of letters, numbers and special characters make the strongest passwords.
7. Verify a source before sharing information; don’t give out personal information on the phone, through the mail or on the Internet unless you’ve initiated the contact. Ask for a call back number and search online for overseas banking information.
8. Store information in secure locations at home and the office, especially if you employ outside help or are having work done in your house.
9. Keep your purse or wallet in a safe place at work; do the same with copies of administrative forms that have your sensitive personal information.