| Lock your doors, hide your money in the safe, | | | | 8. While creating passwords and PIN numbers, |
| hire security guards to protect your prized | | | | avoid using numbers from social security, |
| possessions, but what can you do if someone | | | | birth date, middle name or any kind of |
| stole your identity? If something valuable is | | | | important personal numbers; these are said to |
| stolen, you can call the police and hope to | | | | be easy for criminals to figure out. |
| get your stolen property back. Rightly termed | | | | |
| as the crime of the 21st century, victimizing | | | | 9. Cross check that financial institutions |
| millions of Americans, you can do very little | | | | are safeguarding your important data. Insist |
| if you find your identity stolen. Identity | | | | on the removal of account numbers from ATM |
| theft is on the rise, and nearly everyone is | | | | slips; also ask them to shred the paper |
| vulnerable to this new-age form of fraud. | | | | reports before throwing them away. |
| | | | |
| How is it done? | | | | After the Theft |
| | | | |
| Using all possible methods, criminals steal | | | | 1. The moment you feel that there has been an |
| credit card numbers, social security numbers, | | | | identity theft, it is important to report the |
| telephone calling cards, ATM cards and other | | | | crime to the police. Provide all the |
| key pieces of an individuals identities. The | | | | requisite documented evidence. Even if the |
| information on these is used to impersonate | | | | police refuse to give the report, be |
| the victim, by spending maximum money in the | | | | persistent and demand it. Keep the police |
| shortest time they can. | | | | report for the bank and credit card companys |
| | | | reference. |
| Preventive steps or Precautions | | | | |
| | | | 2. Inform the banks, cancel all the savings |
| 1. Avoid carrying valuable documents and | | | | and checking accounts and get new account |
| cards with you whenever you go out, unless | | | | numbers. |
| its absolutely necessary. | | | | |
| | | | 3. Call the 3 credit reporting companies and |
| 2. Opt for the Direct Marketing Associations | | | | ask them to flag the accounts. Ask for a |
| Mail Preference Service and the Telephone | | | | fraud alert to be attached to the report and |
| Preference Service. By doing this, your name | | | | extend it later if you want to. This fraud |
| is added to the computerized name deletion | | | | alert lets creditors contact you whenever |
| lists used by marketers all over the nation. | | | | there is an attempt to open an account in |
| | | | your name. |
| 3. Pick the newly ordered checks from the | | | | |
| bank and do not allow them to be sent to your | | | | 4. File an ID theft affidavit with the |
| residential address. | | | | Federal Trade Commission after reporting the |
| | | | theft. This affidavit can be sent to credit |
| 4. To keep the mailing system secure, install | | | | bureaus and institutions to close fraudulent |
| a locked mailbox at your residence. | | | | debts and accounts opened in your name. |
| | | | |
| 5. Post mail bills and other sensitive items | | | | 5. Lastly, do not blame yourself for the |
| at the post office instead of the | | | | theft, you being the victim should not feel |
| neighborhood drop boxes. Sometimes the | | | | guilty for the theft, and instead handle the |
| envelopes containing the address could land | | | | situation calmly. |
| in the wrong hands and be altered. | | | | |
| | | | Do not let all the reputation and respect you |
| 6. Do not give out information over the phone | | | | have earned be trifled with by a petty thief. |
| unless it is an individual belonging to a | | | | It is sometimes observed that people you know |
| trusted company. Lottery and lucky dip calls | | | | are the ones who sabotage your identity by |
| should not be entertained, as they are | | | | using it against you. Be on the safe side and |
| usually hoax. | | | | avoid disclosing any personal information to |
| | | | anyone. The identity you have been given is |
| 7. Release Social Security Numbers (SSN) only | | | | yours to have; no other person has the right |
| if it is necessary. | | | | to take it from you. |
| | | | |