| Today, Identity fraud has become one of the | | | | Plus, always deal business with an official sanction |
| most common thefts of the decade - It has been | | | | of a company - Do not try to deal with individuals |
| featured in different kinds of magazines and | | | | that don't seem to have any official identifications, |
| Television shows. It seems like each year the | | | | you can also check the person by calling up the |
| amount of cases being published increase | | | | company. Shred any financial papers you receive |
| drastically. | | | | before disposing of them in the trash. This |
| In America alone, over 27 million cases are being | | | | includes any solicitation notices that you may |
| filed each year and it is still constantly increasing. It | | | | receive for any credit cards or mail from other |
| is also due to the fact that slowly most of the | | | | financial institutions. |
| purchases are done through information - usually | | | | Lastly, don't bring your Social Security Card (or |
| credit cards are the ones with high risk, since if | | | | Identification number) with you unless it's |
| they know all about your personal information | | | | absolutely important. |
| they can easily use your card to purchase over | | | | 2. Report Odd Credit Information |
| the internet. | | | | This is an extremely important part of preventing |
| Now, in order to prevent Identity fraud I have | | | | identity fraud. Most of the time, people who are |
| listed the essential things you can do to prevent | | | | involved in the cases think that they could be |
| this from happening to you and your family. Keep | | | | subjected to identity fraud problems, |
| in mind that if you follow these things you will | | | | unfortunately they don't follow their gut instinct to |
| prevent identity theft at least 90% of the time. | | | | check. |
| So please take note of the information I am | | | | The telltale signs are monthly expenses that show |
| about to share with you. | | | | up in your credit card payment but they don't |
| 1. Information Awareness | | | | provide any form of billing and check your credit |
| Now this is very essential, you should be | | | | card transactions to make sure that all |
| extremely wary of the amount of information | | | | transactions are made by you and if there is a |
| you are giving away to the public. It can be on | | | | discrepancy, immediately call the company to stop |
| the internet or hard copies of your identification | | | | any fraud from continuing further. |
| documents. So in order to be aware of the | | | | And lastly, check your credit report at least once |
| situation you just have to limit the amount of | | | | a year to make sure your information (and credit |
| information you give out, especially on the | | | | standing) is correct. That's why it is essential that |
| internet. Don't publish all of your information online. | | | | you exercise these tips and relate them to your |
| Another thing is you should not allow anyone to | | | | friends and family to prevent any of identity theft |
| copy or borrow your identification documents | | | | fraud problem in the future. |
| without proper reason. | | | | |