Identity Theft Protection
Identity theft is here to stay….. learning about Identity Theft Protection is your first line of defense. It's your identity, your life and your credit at stake. Closing your eyes and going into denial that it's a real problem isn't going to help you, either. We're living in the Information Age and your information is out there just waiting to be stolen.
Identity theft has emerged as one of the dominant white collar crime problems of the 21st Century. Every 3 seconds another identity is stolen.
For the seventh straight year, the Federal Trade Commission says identity theft is the largest consumer complaint and the fastest growing crime in America. In 2007, the FBI reported that identity theft affected 9.91 million Americans. That's 9,991,000. There are probably many more cases that went unreported. It accounted for $52,600,000,000 (billion) in losses in 2007.
Most identity theft victims never know their identity has been stolen until they get phone calls and letters from collections agencies or even the IRS telling them they owe money - usually a LOT.
Fixing your identity is a nightmare. It should seem easy and straightforward but it's not. An average victim spends 300-600 hours to simply prove they're not a thief.
It's sad but true - if you're a victim of identity theft, creditors consider you guilty until you can prove you're innocent.
What can you do to protect your identity?
Some quick and easy things you can do for identity theft protection are:
- Check your credit reports from all three credit bureaus
- Opt out of unsolicited credit card offers
- Put fraud alerts on your credit report
- Buy a shredder and use it
A good solution for many people is to hire professionals to protect their identities. There are many identity theft protection plans to choose from. The best ones give you a guarantee of full-service help if your identity is stolen.
Whatever you choose to do, be pro-active in protecting your identity and personal information. Simply reacting to identity theft isn't enough anymore. Too many thieves have found out this is a safe, easy, money-making crime to commit. They're out to get you.
Don't cross your fingers and hope it won't happen to you. Identity theft protection can keep you from becoming a victim in the first place.
Fraud Alerts Don’t Slow You Down
One of the best ways to protect yourself from some forms of identity theft is a fraud alert. And the best thing about a fraud alert is that it’s free. You just have to remember to renew it every 90 days but you only have to notify one of the credit bureaus and they will notify the others. A fraud alert puts a note on your credit files that asks any new creditor to call you at the phone number you provide before issuing any...
Lost or Stolen Credit Card - Here’s What to Do
If your credt card is stolen or lost, you won’t necessarily become an identity theft victim. So don’t panic. Most credit cards are issued with a liability limit on fraudulent transactions. Typically, you’re responsible for only $50 but many cards now have a zero liability limit - meaning, you’re off the hook completely. Here’s what to do: Call your credit card issuer to tell them you’re card...
Identity Theft Resources
I hope you’re reading this before your wallet or purse is stolen. If you are, follow the steps below to keep danger of identity theft to a minimum.
Don’t carry your social security card
Carry only one credit card - make a copy of both sides and keep in a safe place at home
Make a list of [...]
All those pre-approved credit card offers you get in the mail can be more than just junk mail. They are a favorite way identity thieves get accounts in your name.
Most of us really wouldn’t even think of dumpster diving for anything let alone papers. But it’s a common way thieves get their info to steal [...]
Identity theft has finally started getting the attention it’s been begging for. As people become more aware of this crime, they’ve brought pressure on politicians and the credit reporting agencies to make changes. In the past, every state had their own laws regulating security freezes. On November 1, 2007, everyone can put a security freeze [...]
Credit Reporting AgenciesHere are the Three Credit Reporting Agencies
Equifax Credit Information Services
http://www.equifax.com
PO Box 105873
[...]
Identity Theft Protection
Medical Records and Identity Theft Prevent Identity Theft After DisastersA natural disaster like floods,...
Synthetic Identity Theft - a New Spin on Old CrimeIdentity Theft Statistics
10 Riskest Cities for Identity TheftWhere you live does make a difference in how likely you could become a victim of identity theft. Surprisingly, large metropolitan centers...
Identity Theft Statistics - Security BreachesThere are a lot of identity theft statistics you need to be aware of. First and foremost is this crime is increasing every year with...
Phishing
PayPal, Phishing and Identity TheftThere’s a lot of emails circulating around pretending to be from Paypal. I’ve gotten a few of them lately. I know they’re...
Phishing with S and T BankThe phishers are at it again. Apparently they decided their Citizen’s Bank scheme had run it’s course. Now they’re...
Internet Identity Theft
Identity Theft and Windows UpdatesIdentity theft and Windows updates.. Say what? No, I’m not trying to say Microsoft is going to steal your identity if you don’t...
Identity Theft - How Much Are You WorthInternet Cyber Crime Pays Well. Not only that, but it’s a relatively safe crime to commit. Law enforcement estimates that only...
Security Breaches
Security breaches are unfortunately becoming commonplace. There are new ones all the time - keep track of them here.
2,317,830 - That’s the number of identities involved in security breaches from colleges and universities in the US in the first...
Nashville Voters Social Security Numbers StolenOver the Christmas holidays, a thief broke into the Davidson County Election Office in Nashville, TN and stole computers containing...
Stolen Laptops at Carnegie Mellon UniversityTwo laptops at Carnegie Mellon University was reported stolen on October 10, 2007. The theft took place the first weekend in September...
Compare Identity Theft Protection Plans
Want to know how different Identity Theft Protection Plans compare to each other? Check out this easy to use reference guide and find the best solution for you.
Identity Theft Story
This woman's identity was stolen - then her nightmare began. She was arrested for burglary committed by the Identity Thief.
Watch the video below to see just how bad it got.
Try LifeLock for 30 days free + 10% discount.
Featured Video
A 10-minute educational video from the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) that explains identity theft and outlines the steps you can take to fix it.
- Clicking this will open a small pop-up window for the video.
Recent Posts
- Fraud Alerts Don’t Slow You Down
- Lost or Stolen Credit Card - Here’s What to Do
- Credit Monitoring for Identity Theft Protection
- Here’s Why I Have Identity Protection
- Medical Records and Identity Theft
- College Students Are High Risk for Identity Theft
- Prevent Identity Theft After Disasters
- Identity Theft and Windows Updates
- Zero Day Threat - Book Warns of Identity Theft Dangers
- PayPal, Phishing and Identity Theft
