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