| Don't wait until your identity has been "stolen" to | | | | There are a few cautionary things you can do to |
| worry about it. Identity fraud is a severe crime | | | | help prevent identity theft. After reading your |
| with serious repercussions that can take months | | | | mail, cleaning your desk at home or work, or |
| or even years for victims to repair, not to | | | | cleaning out your car- do not just throw your |
| mention hundreds to thousands of dollars. If | | | | personal items in the trash. Receipts, utility bills, |
| someone has stolen a credit card, or has obtained | | | | bank statements, loan statements and credit card |
| enough information about you to start applying | | | | offers and statements should be completely |
| for new loans and credit cards, your credit score | | | | destroyed prior to throwing away. Invest in a |
| is going to be adversely effected. You will likely | | | | paper shredder and shred everything you are |
| have difficulty obtaining a job (employers are | | | | throwing away to eliminate the possibility of |
| making credit checks a regular part of the | | | | someone finding out information. Alternatively, you |
| interviewing process), you'll be denied credit for | | | | could burn your paperwork. When throwing away |
| things you apply for. You will have a hard time, if | | | | credit cards, shred them or cut them into many |
| not find it impossible, to obtain college loans, | | | | small pieces. |
| vehicle financing, credit cards, and mortgages. In | | | | It used to be that people felt it would be difficult |
| some cases, identity fraud victims may even be | | | | to use another person's credit card. After all, you |
| arrested for crimes they haven't committed, | | | | have to sign your name when making a purchase |
| because someone else is living under their name | | | | with a credit card, right? You need to protect |
| as well. | | | | your credit cards in the same way that you |
| How does identity theft happen? Most people are | | | | protect your cash. Merchants rarely check that |
| fairly careful with their personal information, so | | | | the signature on the back of a credit card |
| how can someone steal the "identity" of another | | | | matches the signature that is signed on a receipt |
| human being and get away with it? | | | | when a purchase is made. |
| There are many ways identity thieves are able to | | | | If you have lost a credit card, or it has been |
| get personal information from people. In some | | | | stolen, report the situation to your creditor |
| cases, the thieves work for companies where | | | | immediately. The credit card company will put a |
| they have access to individual records via a | | | | hold on the account to prevent any purchases |
| computer or through paper files. Sometimes, a | | | | from going through- and they can also track the |
| person doesn't even need access to the | | | | location where someone has attempted to use |
| information, they'll just hack into the computer | | | | the card. This will help in the efforts to find the |
| system and retrieve the information they need to | | | | thief. When you are dining at a restaurant, be |
| steal someone else's identity. One of the most | | | | mindful of paying with a credit card. Most waiters |
| traditional ways for someone to obtain your | | | | will take your card to the register to process it, |
| personal information is by going through your mail. | | | | and the card is out of your sight during this time. |
| Whether they steal it right from your mailbox or | | | | How do you know the waiter or someone else |
| find it in the garbage, if someone finds bank or | | | | isn't writing the numbers and name down from |
| credit card statements, checks that have been | | | | your credit card to use it for online purchases |
| voided but not ripped up, new credit card offers | | | | later on? Consider paying with cash whenever you |
| and tax related information, they usually have | | | | are at a restaurant. |
| enough information to become "you". People who | | | | The biggest precaution you can take on a regular |
| go through garbage containers are known as | | | | basis is to view your credit card statements and |
| "dumpster divers", and will often be found looking | | | | bank statements as soon as you receive them. |
| for information in public trash areas and business | | | | Look for any purchases that you did not make, |
| dumpsters. | | | | and call the credit card company immediately if |
| There are people and businesses in the world that | | | | you find something you are unsure of. If identity |
| have a legitimate right to access another person's | | | | theft is caught early on, it can often be stopped |
| credit report. These people include landlords, | | | | before it gets out of hand. Also keep track of |
| employers, and businesses that must run credit | | | | whether or not you're receiving your statements |
| reports prior to extending credit. Identity thieves | | | | every month. If you are missing a credit card |
| often become employed at these organizations in | | | | statement, call the company to verify the |
| order to obtain access to the personal information | | | | address it's being mailed to. It's possible that |
| they need to do their crime. | | | | someone filled out a change of address form at |
| Opportunities for thieves to find your information | | | | the post office or with the credit card company, |
| are endless. Identity thieves are smart; you have | | | | and is receiving your statements at a different |
| to be smarter. | | | | address with intent to use the information. |