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Identity theft is when someone, an imposter, takes certain pieces of your identification which could be in the form of a Social Security card, driver’s license, or credit card and uses it for their gain. There are many ways that your information can be retrieved such as a lost or stolen wallet or purse, paper information that you discarded without shredding first, pilfered mail, computer virus, or even phishing. Vulnerable, is how you leave yourself in many situations that you are not even aware of. If you pay by credit card and happen to leave the slip behind, there is a good chance that your credit card information was left in a compromising position. In turn, this information is used for check and credit card fraud; it is commonly used for identity theft and fraud. Once these imposters get their hands on enough of your information, and it does not take very much, they will shop and spend as much money, YOUR money, as they can get their hands on. With your Social Security number and your birthday, they can have a field day with your bank account, maybe open a new bank account in your name, or even lease a car in your name. The worst news is that you will never be the wiser until you start getting hassled for the unpaid bills. It has literally taken some people years to recover from falling prey to identity theft, if ever. As technology continues to advance, so does the number of ways that criminals discover to steal the identity of another person for their own gain. Sadly enough, this leaves consumers skeptical about everyone that crosses their path. Not only can these imposters get your information from carelessness on your part or through a theft but they can sometimes also access this information from various institutions that have your personal information in their records such as a landlord, a bank, an employer, or anyone who you have given this information to. To sit and try to think of all of the places and occasions where you may have left yourself vulnerable is absolutely impossible. Instead of looking back at what you could have done differently, be proactive and look ahead at ways to protect yourself from here on out. Remember, it can happen to anyone! Look at your Social Security number as a secret. Give it to no one unless you absolutely must and do not be shy in asking them how well they will be able to protect it for you. Shred everything before throwing it away, besides burning it, shredding is the only way to ensure that it can not be recovered by some clever thief. Limit all information that you include on paper checks, if you are still using them. Do not carry any personal documents on your person except your driver’s license. Review all of your personal information at least once a year including your credit report, tax forms, banking information, and anything else that could put you at risk. Finally, NEVER give out any information to anyone over the phone. Educate yourself fully on each and every way possible to protect yourself from identity theft. For more insights and further information about Identity Theft Protection please visit our web site at http://www.identity-theft-info.com
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