| A one hundred percent foolproof method of | | | | issuers will not have a problem with a new |
| preventing identity theft does not exist and | | | | account application showing a different |
| probably never will. But you absolutely need | | | | address and different phone number than what |
| to take some safeguards that if nothing else, | | | | the credit bureau reports. This is |
| will not make you an easy target to becoming | | | | especially true because it is well known that |
| a victim of identity theft. ID theft is not | | | | credit bureau information is not very |
| pleasant, and if it occurs to you, you will | | | | accurate, and in fact, the majority of |
| end up spending countless hours of time for | | | | consumers have ERRORS in their credit |
| months to get it corrected, possibly also | | | | reports. |
| including some respectable legal fees, not to | | | | |
| mention the damage to your reputation and | | | | So you only find out that you have become a |
| credit report, so while the safeguards may be | | | | victim of identity theft because some |
| inconvenient, they are well worth your time | | | | creditor that you have never heard of is |
| to implement. | | | | calling you at work to ask when you intend to |
| | | | start making payments on your account. What |
| Many people would think that some sort of | | | | a rude surprise! |
| email or computer-based solution is the best | | | | |
| place to start, but in reality, a large | | | | The moral of the story is to be extremely |
| percentage of identity theft is accomplished | | | | careful with your personal information. This |
| with nothing more than a watchful eye and | | | | is particularly true of government issued |
| some sticky fingers. Identity theft has | | | | identification numbers such as your driver's |
| become an all too common problem in the last | | | | license number and your social security |
| couple of years, and is said by multiple | | | | number. How frequently do you get offers in |
| studies to be one of the fastest growing | | | | the mail about being pre-approved for a new |
| crimes of this decade. | | | | credit card? If you are like most people, |
| | | | you probably get several of these every |
| Be fully aware that identity theft is not | | | | month. What do you do with them? Do you |
| limited to your Internet or surfing | | | | simply throw them in the trash, perhaps |
| activities. In fact, studies have shown that | | | | ripping them in half first? Most people do |
| people who routinely use services like online | | | | exactly that, but the information is still |
| banking and online bill paying services (from | | | | very readily available to anyone who has the |
| reputable sites) are actually found to be | | | | inclination to go through people's trash |
| LESS likely targets for this, since people | | | | looking for exactly this type of information. |
| who use such services are more careful with | | | | You will probably never get away from the |
| their personal identification information | | | | junk mail, but for under $50, you can get a |
| than Joe Average. | | | | paper shredder at virtually any office supply |
| | | | store, and then put those offers through that |
| Basically what happens is simply that someone | | | | shredder. |
| gets some of your personal information, | | | | |
| enough so that they can open accounts, get | | | | Anything you can do to safeguard your |
| credit cards or loans, and open those | | | | personal information makes it far less likely |
| accounts in your name, obviously without your | | | | that you will become a target for identity |
| knowledge of it. Think about it, what | | | | theft. When you think of the small |
| information is required to open a department | | | | investment in a shredder and the bit of extra |
| store credit card or apply for a Visa or | | | | time to ensure that you properly dispose of |
| Mastercard? Name, address, phone number, | | | | such information, compared against the MONTHS |
| social security number or drivers license | | | | of personal time required to straighten out a |
| number. With people moving around today, | | | | mess if you are a victim, the tradeoff is |
| with other information intact, many credit | | | | more than worth it. |