|
When identity theft strikes, it can cost you a lot of time and money. It can also cause damage to your credit. There are many steps you need to take if your identity is stolen. In addition to reporting it to the proper authorities, you also need to pay more attention to your credit reports. It can also be beneficial to enroll in programs that allow for extra credit protection. There are many tips to protect from identity theft, and many of them require vigilance on your part. Unfortunately, many victims of identity theft feel that once it has happened to them, it won't happen again. However, there is nothing in place to prevent identity theft from striking twice. There have been many repeat victims of credit fraud, and many people who are victims are still dealing with identity theft years later. How Identity Theft Happens In order for identity theft to occur, a thief has to get a hold of your personal information. This includes account numbers, birth date, social security number, address, and many other bits of information that reveal things about you. Once a thief has any or all of this information, he or she can commit identity theft. By using your credit cards without authorization or opening new credit accounts in your name, an identity thief can cause you financial ruin and wreak havoc on your credit score. There are many different ways a thief can get this information, but luckily there are many ways you can stop it. One of the more common ways for an identity thief to get your personal information is simply to ask for it. By disguising as someone you trust or by promising you something in return, a credit thief will request some of your personal information. Once you give away this info, your identity will be taken within a matter of seconds. One of the many tips to protect from identity theft is to be cautious with your personal information and to refrain from giving it out to anyone unless you know exactly why they need it and what they plan to do with it. What to Do if You Become a Victim If you become a victim of identity theft, the first thing you need to do is report the fraud to the credit bureaus, your banks, and the local authorities. You should file an official report online that declares your identity has been stolen. It's also a good idea to get a credit freeze, which will prevent anyone from opening an account in your name without your direct permission. Identity theft can haunt you for a long time, and the sooner you act the better. Identity theft can have serious repercussions for you. You can be out thousands of dollars and be unable to pay for things because your credit cards have been maxed out. Some people are still dealing with identity theft even five years after the first incident occurred. In order to reduce the time and cost of identity theft, you need to report it immediately and take other precautions to make sure it doesn't happen again. Checking your credit report on a regular basis is one great way to make sure it doesn't happen again. Can You Become a Victim Again? There is an old saying that lightning doesn't strike twice in the same place. Whether or not this is true, it is certainly not true when it comes to identity theft. Many people do find themselves repeat victims of identity theft. If a thief is capable of getting your information once, it can certainly happen again. Therefore, you need to do everything you can to protect yourself. Once you have been a victim and have experienced the hassle and the cost, you will likely be willing to spend a few extra dollars a month on programs that protect your accounts against identity fraud. No matter what, you can never be too careful with your personal information or your credit. Identity theft is a very serious crime that can happen to anyone at any time. It can even happen to the same person more than once. While some cases are taken care of quickly, other people are still dealing with identity theft after several years. Once an identity thief has obtained your personal information, the information is out there forever and can be used again if you aren't careful. Getting fraud alerts placed can be a great way to prevent identity theft from happening again. Monitoring your credit and watching your statements carefully are also great tips to protect from identity theft. The most important thing is to always be careful with your information and never to give it out to anyone unless it is an absolute necessity for financial reasons. Joy Mali is an active blogger who is fond of writing articles on Credit Protection and educating people to take immediate measure if your card is lost or stolen before someone take advantage of it. Follow her on Twitter to know more on how to make sure identity theft doesn't strike twice.
Related Articles -
Tips to Protect from Identity Theft, still dealing with identity theft,
| 
