| Within the United Kingdom, identity fraud has | | | | items or obtain ashredder. A shredder can do |
| become one ofhighest rating crimes to date. | | | | multiple things; it can destroyyour personal |
| The UK government estimatesthat each year | | | | documents as well as compact discs or |
| identity fraud costs them 1.3 Billion. | | | | floppydisks that could contain identifying |
| | | | information. |
| Identity fraud has worked because many | | | | |
| companies and peoplein general have been | | | | Additionally, some shredders will shred a |
| convinced in some way to hand overtheir | | | | credit card aswell. |
| items, documents or money. Identity fraud can | | | | |
| remainundetected for several months before | | | | Protect your credit cards just as you would |
| anyone realizes whathas been done. | | | | your cash. |
| | | | |
| The UK has come up with an idea that is due | | | | When you receive a new credit card, it should |
| in the year | | | | be signed byyou immediately. If you must |
| | | | destroy a credit card, youshould shred it by |
| 2007. They intend to issue Identification | | | | either using a shredder or cutting itup |
| cards thatcontain information biometrically | | | | thoroughly with scissors. If your credit card |
| about the individual. | | | | shouldbecome stolen or lost, report it to the |
| | | | credit cardcompanies instantly, this will |
| This information could come in the form of | | | | prevent the card from beingused. Another |
| fingerprints oran iris scan. Many people do | | | | thing many people do not consider, is whenyou |
| not believe this will solvethe problem. No | | | | are dining out, be watchful of letting your |
| matter what the government does to | | | | card outof sight. One popular fraud is to |
| protectyour identity, one thing will always | | | | simply take an imprintor write down the |
| remain the same. Theprotection of your | | | | numbers for use later. |
| identity is largely your concern. | | | | |
| | | | Lastly, when you receive your credit card or |
| There are a few things that you can do in | | | | bankstatements open and review them |
| efforts toprevent identity theft. This of | | | | immediately. If you seeanything out of the |
| course, is no guarantee,but it is a great | | | | ordinary upon the statements, youshould call |
| step in protecting yourself from thievesand | | | | the company right away and begin |
| fraud. | | | | ainvestigation into it. Additionally, if you |
| | | | should evernotice your statement has not |
| When you are cleaning out your desk, do not | | | | arrived on time, you shouldmake a telephone |
| simply throwyour personal items away. Items | | | | call to the company to investigate this. |
| such as bank statements,credit card | | | | |
| statements, receipts and utility bills | | | | It is possible that is has been routed to an |
| shouldbe destroyed. You could burn these | | | | address otherthan your own. |