Article: Identity Theft: How to Protect Yourself - Free Reprintable Article

Identity theft is one of the fasting growing crimes in America. What can you do to protect yourself from becoming a victim of identity theft? First start by reviewing these 10 tips.

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Identity Theft: How to Protect Yourself

by Chemain Evans
Identity theft encompasses a wide range of deception, from a stolen credit card used to charge purchases to an existing account, to stolen information used to impersonate the victim, open new accounts (even ones for utilities), and rack up thousands of dollars in debt.

With over 500,000 new cases each year (and some say upwards of 900,000), identity theft is one of the fasting growing crimes in America. In many states it isn't even illegal, or hardly punishable if it is. Often the perpetrator goes uncaught and unpunished. Worse still is that it takes on average 12 months for the victim to realize he is a victim and by then it may nearly impossible to climb back out of the black hole of damaged credit, costing hundreds of hours and hundreds of dollars to try to fix it.

Sadly, since much of this goes unpunished, companies often write off the bad debt and then charge you and me higher interest rates and fees to cover their losses. So we all are indirect victims of identity theft. The more vigilant we become, the better off we will all be.

What can you do to protect yourself from becoming a victim of identity theft? There is no absolute guarantee, but the more precautions you put in place, the harder it will be for someone to steal your information and use it illegally. What follow below are some ideas that you can use to start protecting yourself now.

1. Check your credit reports annually.

This is your first and foremost line of defense. Contact the three major credit reporting agencies (www.equifax.com, www.experian.com, www.transunion.com) every year to obtain a copy of your credit report. Some websites also offer a 3-in-1 report. Go through them carefully, looking for any inaccuracies. Report any problems immediately. Consider asking them to require your permission to issue new credit lines.

2. Protect your Social Security number.

Many companies ask for your Social Security number (SSN) to use for recordkeeping. Ask if you can substitute a different number. This is especially true of driver's licenses and health insurance cards. Never give out your SSN to anyone over the phone or internet if you did not initiate the contact. Don't carry your Social Security card with you and don't have your SSN preprinted on your checks (or your phone number either).

3. Protect passwords and PINs.

Always protect your passwords and PINs from being seen by others, especially at ATMs. Don't write them down and carry them with you. Do not store passwords on your computer's hard drive. If you need to write them down, store them somewhere else. Passwords should be hard to discover (bad choices: mother's maiden name, birthdates, last 4 digits of SSN or phone number, or a series of consecutive numbers). When possible use a mix of upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols.

4. Know your billing cycles.

Know when to expect your bills. If any of them is late, call the company or agency and check on its status. A late/missing bill could mean that someone has stolen your information and changed the billing address, leaving you unaware of the charges that may be racking up.

5. Shred everything with your information on it.

All those credit card applications you receive in the mail and throw away are an open invitation for someone to open an account in your name. Invest in a good cross-cut shredder and shred all documents with any financial information on them, including credit card receipts. Then put the remnants in the yuckiest, ickiest trash you've got to discourage dumpster-divers from stealing them and putting them back together.

6. Make the post office your ally.

Deposit outgoing mail at your local post office or in a locked post office drop box. Thieves actually patrol neighborhoods, stealing mail out of mailboxes. A little acid wash, and voila!, they change the amount and the person being paid. Don't give them the chance! If you're going out of town, have the post office put a hold on your mail. Consider getting a post office box or ask your post office about getting a key-operated community mailbox for your neighborhood.

7. Technology doesn't beat everything.

Don't give out personal information over cellular/mobile/wireless phones, or cordless phones. (This includes telephone banking.) Their radio frequencies can be easily intercepted, overheard, and hacked.

Surfing the internet puts you at risk from hackers breaking into your system; consider purchasing a "firewall" program to protect your computer from outside access. When divulging personal information on the internet (for example, when making a purchase) always look for privacy policies and the little "lock" symbol that indicates your information is secure.

Don't use your email address for user IDs on websites; there are "robots" that specifically search for this on sites like eBay to try and trick you into divulging your personal information. You may receive an official-looking email asking you to "verify" or "update" your information. Remember that anyone who already has your information will not ask you to verify it. Always be suspicious of such tactics. The same goes for people who call you and claim to be somebody like a bill collector, government agent, utility worker, etc. If in doubt, call the company they appear to be representing.

If you use a laptop computer use a strong password (combination of upper/lower-case letters, numbers, symbols); don't use automatic login; always log off when finished; and don't store financial information on it unless absolutely necessary.

When disposing of your personal computer, deleting your personal information usually isn't enough. Use a "wipe" utility program to render files unrecoverable.

8. Be aware of the opportunities to steal your information.

Think of all the places that store your personal information, such as the offices of doctors, dentists, accountants, loan officers, health insurance, schools, courts, etc. Ask them how they protect your information. Request that they shred anything with personal information on it when disposing of it.

Keep your wallet or purse in a safe place at work; not all of your fellow coworkers are trustworthy. Be aware of the "Good Samaritan" scheme where your missing wallet is returned (after one of your several credit cards is removed; you have so many that you probably won't notice!). Only carry a minimum number of cards and identification with you.

9. If desired, subscribe to a credit monitoring service.

If you're really worried about identity theft, consider subscribing to a credit monitoring service. They will regularly notify you of your credit status and anything suspicious that might be going on.

10. Make a list and check it twice.

Make list of all your credit card numbers, banking account numbers, and driver's license number with their customer service numbers and keep them in a safe place. That way you'll have a starting place if something should happen to you.

Remember, the more vigilant we all are, the more protected we all are.

For more information regarding identity theft , see the federal government's website at www.consumer.gov/idtheft.

***************************************************************
© Simple Joe, Inc.
Chemain Evans is a quality control specialist for Simple Joe, Inc., makers of the popular Simple Joe's Expense Tracker PC software. Expense Tracker is a quick and simple way to keep track of your expenses and stay within your budget. Expense Tracker is ideal for tracking personal, business, home and club expenses.. This article may be freely distributed as long as the copyright, author's information and an active link (where possible) are included.

Note: This article may be freely distrubuted and reprinted as long as the author's information and web link are included at the bottom of the article. The web link should be active when the article is reprinted on a web site or in an email. Minor edits and alterations are acceptable so long as they do not distort or change the content of the article. For more information on reprint rights email:

Article Formatted for Email & Newsletters:

1038 Words

Title: Identity Theft:  How to Protect Yourself
Author: Chemain Evans

Identity theft encompasses a wide range of deception, from a
stolen credit card used to charge purchases to an existing
account, to stolen information used to impersonate the
victim, open new accounts (even ones for utilities), and
rack up thousands of dollars in debt.

With over 500,000 new cases each year (and some say upwards
of 900,000), identity theft is one of the fasting growing
crimes in America. In many states it isn't even illegal, or
hardly punishable if it is. Often the perpetrator goes
uncaught and unpunished. Worse still is that it takes on
average 12 months for the victim to realize he is a victim
and by then it may nearly impossible to climb back out of
the black hole of damaged credit, costing hundreds of hours
and hundreds of dollars to try to fix it.

Sadly, since much of this goes unpunished, companies often
write off the bad debt and then charge you and me higher
interest rates and fees to cover their losses. So we all are
indirect victims of identity theft. The more vigilant we
become, the better off we will all be.

What can you do to protect yourself from becoming a victim
of identity theft? There is no absolute guarantee, but the
more precautions you put in place, the harder it will be for
someone to steal your information and use it illegally. What
follow below are some ideas that you can use to start
protecting yourself now.

1. Check your credit reports annually.

This is your first and foremost line of defense. Contact the
three major credit reporting agencies (<a 
href="http://www.equifax.com">www.equifax.com</a>, 
<a href="http://www.experian.com">www.experian.com</a>, 
<a href="http://www.transunion.com">www.transunion.com</a>) 
every year to obtain a
copy of your credit report. Some websites also offer a
3-in-1 report. Go through them carefully, looking for any
inaccuracies. Report any problems immediately. Consider
asking them to require your permission to issue new credit
lines.

2. Protect your Social Security number.

Many companies ask for your Social Security number (SSN) to
use for recordkeeping. Ask if you can substitute a different
number. This is especially true of driver's licenses and
health insurance cards. Never give out your SSN to anyone
over the phone or internet if you did not initiate the
contact. Don't carry your Social Security card with you and
don't have your SSN preprinted on your checks (or your phone
number either).

3. Protect passwords and PINs.

Always protect your passwords and PINs from being seen by
others, especially at ATMs. Don't write them down and carry
them with you. Do not store passwords on your computer's
hard drive. If you need to write them down, store them
somewhere else. Passwords should be hard to discover (bad
choices:  mother's maiden name, birthdates, last 4 digits of
SSN or phone number, or a series of consecutive numbers).
When possible use a mix of upper- and lower-case letters,
numbers, and symbols.

4. Know your billing cycles.

Know when to expect your bills. If any of them is late, call
the company or agency and check on its status. A
late/missing bill could mean that someone has stolen your
information and changed the billing address, leaving you
unaware of the charges that may be racking up.

5. Shred everything with your information on it.

All those credit card applications you receive in the mail
and throw away are an open invitation for someone to open an
account in your name. Invest in a good cross-cut shredder
and shred all documents with any financial information on
them, including credit card receipts. Then put the remnants
in the yuckiest, ickiest trash you've got to discourage
dumpster-divers from stealing them and putting them back
together.

6. Make the post office your ally.

Deposit outgoing mail at your local post office or in a
locked post office drop box. Thieves actually patrol
neighborhoods, stealing mail out of mailboxes. A little acid
wash, and voila!, they change the amount and the person
being paid. Don't give them the chance! If you're going out
of town, have the post office put a hold on your mail.
Consider getting a post office box or ask your post office
about getting a key-operated community mailbox for your
neighborhood.

7. Technology doesn't beat everything.

Don't give out personal information over
cellular/mobile/wireless phones, or cordless phones. (This
includes telephone banking.) Their radio frequencies can be
easily intercepted, overheard, and hacked.

Surfing the internet puts you at risk from hackers breaking
into your system; consider purchasing a "firewall" program
to protect your computer from outside access. When divulging
personal information on the internet (for example, when
making a purchase) always look for privacy policies and the
little "lock" symbol that indicates your information is
secure.

Don't use your email address for user IDs on websites; there
are "robots" that specifically search for this on sites like
eBay to try and trick you into divulging your personal
information. You may receive an official-looking email
asking you to "verify" or "update" your information.
Remember that anyone who already has your information will
not ask you to verify it. Always be suspicious of such
tactics. The same goes for people who call you and claim to
be somebody like a bill collector, government agent, utility
worker, etc. If in doubt, call the company they appear to be
representing.

If you use a laptop computer use a strong password
(combination of upper/lower-case letters, numbers, symbols);
don't use automatic login; always log off when finished; and
don't store financial information on it unless absolutely
necessary.

When disposing of your personal computer, deleting your
personal information usually isn't enough. Use a "wipe"
utility program to render files unrecoverable.

8. Be aware of the opportunities to steal your information.

Think of all the places that store your personal
information, such as the offices of doctors, dentists,
accountants, loan officers, health insurance, schools,
courts, etc. Ask them how they protect your information.
Request that they shred anything with personal information on 
it when disposing of it.

Keep your wallet or purse in a safe place at work; not all
of your fellow coworkers are trustworthy. Be aware of the
"Good Samaritan" scheme where your missing wallet is
returned (after one of your several credit cards is removed;
you have so many that you probably won't notice!). Only
carry a minimum number of cards and identification with you.

9. If desired, subscribe to a credit monitoring service.

If you're really worried about identity theft, consider
subscribing to a credit monitoring service. They will
regularly notify you of your credit status and anything
suspicious that might be going on.

10. Make a list and check it twice.

Make list of all your credit card numbers, banking account
numbers, and driver's license number with their customer
service numbers and keep them in a safe place. That way
you'll have a starting place if something should happen to
you.

Remember, the more vigilant we all are, the more protected
we all are.

For more information regarding identity theft , see the
federal government's website at <a 
href="http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft">www.consumer.gov/idtheft</a>.

************************************************************
 © Simple Joe, Inc.
Chemain Evans is a quality control specialist for Simple Joe, 
Inc., makers of the popular Simple Joe's Expense Tracker PC 
software. Expense Tracker is a quick and simple way to keep 
track of your expenses and stay within your budget. Expense 
Tracker (http://www.simplejoe.com/expensetracker/index2.htm) 
is ideal for tracking personal, business, home and club 
expenses.

This article may be freely distributed as long as the copyright, 
author's information and an active link (where possible) are 
included.

Articles & Products Related To Identity Theft

Article: Recovering from Identity Theft
Article: How to Steal $65 Billion: Why Identity Theft is a Growth Industry - By Robert X. Cringely - September 11, 2003
Article: Identity Theft: What, Me Worry? - By Janet Rubenking - March 2, 2004 - PC Magazine
Article: How Identity Theft Works - by Lee Ann Obringer
Article: Identity Theft and Identity Fraud - U.S. Department of Justice
Article: IdentityTheft: Stealing your nameand your money - by Debbi Baer(PDF File)
Article: Life In General - Telemarketing Troubles
Links: Links to sites featuring security software.
Links: Links to sites featuring security software (more).
Product: Simple Joe's Money Tools - Personal Finance and Investing Financial Calculators
Products: Web Page: Main | Products - Personal Finance Software
Books: Best Books on Personal Finance by Motley Fool
Books: Best Personal Finance Books
Books: Required Reading - Books On Personal Finance
Books: Robert T. Kiyosaki Books - Rich Dad, Poor Dad Series

Identity Theft: Related Organizations & Businesses

Federal Trade Commission
www.consumer.gov/idtheft/

Identity Theft Prevention and Survival Site
www.identitytheft.org

Identity Theft Resource Center
www.idtheftcenter.org

Internet Fraud Complaint Center (IFCC)
www.ifccfbi.gov

U.S. Department of Justice Identity Theft and Fraud information
www.usdoj.gov/criminal/fraud/ idtheft.html

U.S. Department of State Passport Services
www.travel.state.gov/passport_services

National Association of Consumer Advocates (NACA)
www.naca.net/resource.htm

Credit Bureaus

Equifax (www.equifax.com)
To order a report, call 800-685-1111; to report fraud, call 800-525-6285.

Experian (www.experian.com)
To order a report or report fraud, call 888-397-3742.

TransUnion (www.transunion.com)
To order a report, call 800-888-4213; to report fraud, call 800-680-7289.

About the author Chemain Evans

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Page Title:	Article: Identity Theft: How to Protect Yourself
Keywords:	identity theft crime fasting growing protect yourself tips free article information, free reprintable article
Summary:	Identity theft is one of the fasting growing crimes in America. What can you do to protect yourself from becoming a victim of identity theft? First start by reviewing these 10 tips.