identity-theftCredit identity theft is a growing problem in the USA and around the world. It’s so easy for a criminal to steal your identity through and use your credit to fund their lavish lifestyles. Unfortunately for you, you’re the one who ends up with ruined credit and saddled with outrageous debt over the whole thing.

Of course, credit identity theft doesn’t just result in ruined credit for the victim. People have also been arrested for crimes they didn’t commit, thanks to the actions of identity thieves. These thieves commit crimes while using your stolen identification, so when they’re arrested, they have your Social Security number, driver’s license number, and other identifying documents that can make the police believe they’re you. Once out on bail, they’re free to commit more crimes, and a warrant is usually put out on them in your name. If you’re unfortunate enough to get pulled over by a police officer for speeding or a broken tail light, you’ll be going to jail, and it may be quite a while before you can straighten out the situation. It’s happened to other people, and it could happen to you.

Fortunately, there are things you can do to protect yourself from identity theft. Here are some of the most important things you can do:
 
 Never give out your Social Security number over the phone and never put it on any documents unless legally required to do so. Once a thief gets hold of your Social Security number, there’s virtually no end to the havoc he can wreak on your life.

 Shred all papers containing private data about you, such as your Social Security number, credit card numbers, driver’s license number, etc. Invest in an inexpensive shredder for this. The small investment is worth it for your peace of mind.

 Don’t have checks delivered to your house. They can easily be stolen out of your mailbox. Instead, pick up new checks at the bank, and have new credit cards delivered with signature required, so you don’t have to worry about theft of your identity through the mail.

 Check your credit report every six months to be sure there are no unauthorized accounts there. If so, report it to the credit reporting agency and dispute it if you have to. Also dispute the ownership of fraudulent accounts with the listed creditor. You’ll have to supply proof the account isn’t yours, but if it really isn’t your account, this proof won’t be hard to obtain.

 If you do all of these things, you’ll be taking a proactive approach to protecting yourself against credit identity theft. If you don’t take steps to protect yourself, you’ll wish you had, in the event your identity is stolen. Identity theft is one of the most difficult problems to clear up, because once your good name is tarnished, it’s a long-uphill battle to reclaim it. Start now and avoid problems in the future. You’ll be glad you did.

This is the second installment in our identity theft series. Be sure to check back for updates…

Filed under: Identity Theft

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