Identity theft is a severe crime that is spreading annually. If you are a victim of identity theft you might spend months, possibly years, trying to repair a damaged credit report. A severely ruined credit history could compromise your prospects of getting a new career, a bank loan, insurance or perhaps renting a house. It's also possible to be arrested for a violation you did not commit if the culprit has utilized your identity to commit illegal acts.
Unfortunately, several of the techniques that thieves use to swipe identities are outside of your control to shield against. Granting it's infrequent, even store employees have been known to utilize their position to send along data to identity thieves. There are a few measures you could take, nonetheless, that will make it harder for a thief to swipe your identity.
Guard Your Credit Card Number When Making Purchases
After you make a purchase and your credit or debit card has been run through a credit card machine, investigate to make sure that the printed receipt hides all but the last four digits of your credit card account number (often there will be Xs to replace the first 12 digits). Some machines continue to print receipts that supply all sixteen digits of an account number, and may even have the expiration date as well. After your card is swiped, you are authorized legally to conceal the first 12 digits of your account number on the duplicate of the receipt that the vendor keeps. Work with any marking pen that will do the task.
When you eat at a restaurant, it's primarily important to make sure that the first 12 digits of your credit card number are not visible on your receipt. You may be in the custom of endorsing it and then forgetting the restaurant's duplicate receipt on the dining table after your meal. A criminal could easily swipe the endorsed duplicate receipt prior to the waitperson coming back around to pick it up from the dining table. Do not take any risks.
Do You Really Need To Give Your Social Security Number?
Additionally, an important way that you could safeguard against identity theft is to keep from giving out your social security number except when it's truly necessary. Even though you have to disclose your social security number upon applying for credit or for a bank account, sometimes a business or an organization will want to use it as an ID number, simply to classify you inside their network. This is an ordinary procedure although the law states that social security numbers are not to be utilized as ID numbers. In this situation, use your judgment. There's usually another option if you inquire.
Eliminate Documents That Include Sensitive Personal Information
Invest in a paper shredder and use it to terminate documents you are getting rid of which contain personal data such as credit card numbers, social security numbers, telephone numbers and birth dates. This is critical to do both at your residence and at work. Identity thieves are not beyond dumpster diving to discover valuable personal data that could help them apply for credit in your name.
If The Worst Happens
If you do become a victim of identity theft, take the following steps immediately:
* Communicate with your credit card companies, close your accounts and ask to have new cards issued to you.
* Put a fraud alert on your report with any one of the three major credit reporting agencies. The others will be notified automatically.
* Put in a police report. You might be required to have it to show to creditors as proof of the illegal act.
* Put in a complaint with the FTC, which maintains a database of identity theft cases utilized by law enforcement agencies for their investigations.
Unfortunately, several of the techniques that thieves use to swipe identities are outside of your control to shield against. Granting it's infrequent, even store employees have been known to utilize their position to send along data to identity thieves. There are a few measures you could take, nonetheless, that will make it harder for a thief to swipe your identity.
Guard Your Credit Card Number When Making Purchases
After you make a purchase and your credit or debit card has been run through a credit card machine, investigate to make sure that the printed receipt hides all but the last four digits of your credit card account number (often there will be Xs to replace the first 12 digits). Some machines continue to print receipts that supply all sixteen digits of an account number, and may even have the expiration date as well. After your card is swiped, you are authorized legally to conceal the first 12 digits of your account number on the duplicate of the receipt that the vendor keeps. Work with any marking pen that will do the task.
When you eat at a restaurant, it's primarily important to make sure that the first 12 digits of your credit card number are not visible on your receipt. You may be in the custom of endorsing it and then forgetting the restaurant's duplicate receipt on the dining table after your meal. A criminal could easily swipe the endorsed duplicate receipt prior to the waitperson coming back around to pick it up from the dining table. Do not take any risks.
Do You Really Need To Give Your Social Security Number?
Additionally, an important way that you could safeguard against identity theft is to keep from giving out your social security number except when it's truly necessary. Even though you have to disclose your social security number upon applying for credit or for a bank account, sometimes a business or an organization will want to use it as an ID number, simply to classify you inside their network. This is an ordinary procedure although the law states that social security numbers are not to be utilized as ID numbers. In this situation, use your judgment. There's usually another option if you inquire.
Eliminate Documents That Include Sensitive Personal Information
Invest in a paper shredder and use it to terminate documents you are getting rid of which contain personal data such as credit card numbers, social security numbers, telephone numbers and birth dates. This is critical to do both at your residence and at work. Identity thieves are not beyond dumpster diving to discover valuable personal data that could help them apply for credit in your name.
If The Worst Happens
If you do become a victim of identity theft, take the following steps immediately:
* Communicate with your credit card companies, close your accounts and ask to have new cards issued to you.
* Put a fraud alert on your report with any one of the three major credit reporting agencies. The others will be notified automatically.
* Put in a police report. You might be required to have it to show to creditors as proof of the illegal act.
* Put in a complaint with the FTC, which maintains a database of identity theft cases utilized by law enforcement agencies for their investigations.
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