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How does identity theft take place?

IN our everyday busy lives, we use our personal information repeatedly, by writing checks at the grocery store; we use our ATM/check card to purchase movie tickets over the internet; we use our VISA credit card to rent a car; we use our cell phone to apply for credit or call home and we send our personal tax returns through the mail or e-mail.. By putting all that information out into the open, all it takes is a skilled identity thief to snatch it up. ID thieves may use a variety of methods to obtain your identifying information and take over your identity. They can:

1. Steal your wallet or purse, therefore obtaining your identification, credit and banking cards.
2. Steal your wail from your home mailbox, therefore obtaining credit card statements, pre-approved credit offers, new checks, new credit cards, tax information, and more. By obtaining your mail they can change your address and divert your mail to another location.
3. Sifting through trashcans (called dumpster diving) at your home or business looking for person data, such as copies of checks, credit cards or bank statements, or other records. These types of records make it easy for a criminal to damage your assets credit and reputation.
4. Posing as a credit lender and mailing you a phony pre-approved letter requesting your identifying information. If you sign and supply your info they can obtain your credit report.
5. Stealing your identifying information from your home, your place of business, or your school and the hospital you may have visited; there is no limit to what a criminal will do to get your information.

How do I protect my Identifying Information?

You may not be able to prevent identity theft entirely, but you can minimize the risk of being a victim, but managing your identifying information wisely, cautiously and with the awareness of the problem. By using the following steps you can safeguard your identity:

1. Place passwords on all your bank cards, credit cards, and phone accounts. Ado not use mother’s maiden name, or the last four digits of your social, use a password that is not easily identifiable or has no tangible meaning. A password with a combination of letters and numbers (called alphanumeric) is the best form of protection.
2. Don’t carry excess credit cards. Don’t bring several different credit cards in your purse or wallet, in case it is stolen.
3. Safeguard your mail. Never place outgoing mail in your home mailbox. Use the large collection boxes at the post office or in your community. Or better yet, take your mail directly to the local post office. Remember to remove your mail promptly in a daily basis. If you go on vacation, remember to contact the post office and have a “vacation hold” placed on your mail.
4. Safeguard your garbage. Always shred your personal information before throwing it into a trash bin. Shred charge receipts, copies of credit applications, medical statements, or any document that links your name to any other identifying information. Also remember to shred credit applications and pre-approval notices.
5. Secure your personal information at home, so that in the event of a break-in there is a very small likelihood that a criminal could obtain your data.
6. Secure your computer. This is an extremely important aspect of securing your information. Make sure you have virus protection with up to date virus definitions. Do not download any suspicious files. Be certain that you install a firewall so that hackers cannot gain access to your computer files, and if you dispose of a computer make sure you delete all identifying information.

By following these simple steps you make it much more difficult for an identity thief to obtain your information.