| Identity theft continues to be one of the fastest | | | | are also others. For example, using your identity |
| growing crimes of this century, and is thought to | | | | to get health care coverage or social security |
| also be the largest and fastest growing white | | | | benefits is something gaining more visibility as time |
| collar crime in the US. It becomes increasingly | | | | goes on. This puts an additional strain on the |
| easy for identity thieves to get enough of your | | | | already skyrocketing costs of health insurance, |
| personal information to steal your identity | | | | and could also affect your health records at your |
| especially during busy shopping times of the year. | | | | doctor's office since those records are no longer |
| The easiest way for a thief to steal your identity | | | | accurate if they are actually treating someone |
| used to be via dumpster diving, an activity where | | | | else for an ailment that you do not have. |
| the thieves would sift through people's trash to | | | | Identity theft can cause extreme situations, so do |
| get their personal information. Just think about | | | | not think for a minute that while it might be an |
| how often you get a pre approved credit card | | | | inconvenience, it is not the end of the world. |
| offer in the mail. If you have decent credit, you | | | | Consider a case a few years ago where a |
| probably get multiple such offers each and every | | | | teacher whose identity had been compromised |
| week. Or what about those bank statements | | | | was charged with prostitution. Although it took |
| from 5 years ago, or perhaps your credit card | | | | months to resolve and the teacher was |
| statements after you have paid the bill? Most | | | | eventually cleared of the bogus charge, the school |
| people simply throw them in the trash without | | | | district finally just let the teacher go because it |
| even ripping them up, which makes them prime | | | | was far more trouble than it was worth to |
| property for these dumpster divers. It does not | | | | continue fighting against the charge, which is |
| take a rocket scientist to piece even a ripped up | | | | something people will remember and really |
| statement back together so they have enough | | | | wonder about as time goes on. |
| information to steal your identity. | | | | The cost to the victim can be enormous. On |
| For virtually ANYTHING that you discard into the | | | | average, an identity theft case costs the victim |
| trash that has your personal information on it, | | | | more than $92,000 in financial loss, the thief has |
| invest in a paper shredder. These are readily | | | | written more than 70 checks in the victim's name, |
| available at just about any office supply store for | | | | and has opened about 8 credit card accounts in |
| about $35, and the amount of potential grief this | | | | the victim's name. Be aware that if you do not |
| could save you is far more than the purchase | | | | discover the theft within 60 days of the |
| price of the paper shredder. | | | | transaction date, some credit card companies will |
| Many people think of identity theft as being | | | | still hold you responsible for the charges. |
| financially related, where the thieves use your | | | | Be careful with your personal information, since |
| identity to get money or buy products using your | | | | becoming a victim of identity theft can take |
| good credit reputation. While this is certainly the | | | | months and even years to straighten out. |
| most common benefit for identity thieves, there | | | | |