Identity theft is the
fastest-growing crime in America, affecting 9 million people each year. Criminal
identity theft has legal repercussions, but they aren’t a tough enough
deterrent and need to be harsher. It is shockingly easy to steal someone’s
identity and then use it to open credit card accounts, take out loans, or even
buy a car. The following information will give you the heads-up on identity
theft along with some thoughts on how to prevent it from happening to you.
·
Social Security Number Theft
·
Monitoring Identity Theft
·
How to Prevent Becoming an ID Thief’s Victim
·
Utilize a Free Legal Advice Service such as Legal-yogi
Social Security Number Theft
Theft of Social
Security number(s) is just one of the ways an ID thief gets your information.
Once he has your SS number, he can get the rest of your personal data and use
it for his own gain. Most often, the theft of your SS number is committed by a
friend or relative, so be very careful who you share it with. If it happens to
you, contact the Social Security office nearest you to learn what to do about
it.
Monitoring Identity Theft
There are companies
out there that offer identity theft monitoring, but do some research before
choosing one to work with. They tell you that if you give them your Social
Security number, notifying you of suspicious identity activity is just an
e-mail away. These services offer to watch the Big Three credit reporting
companies (Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax), your cell phone activity, and
public information to protect your identity. Of course, these services are not
free; they usually charge $10 - $20 a month. Make sure to look over client
feedback portions of prospective companies’ websites so you can get a good idea
of whether or not they’re effective if you decide to use them.
How to Prevent Becoming an ID Thief’s Victim
Here are some
common-sense ideas to encourage Social Security identity theft protection.
Remember that once a thief has that number, he can access your other personal
info, so follow these suggestions. Do not carry your SS card on your person;
leave it in a secure place. If you must carry it with you, keep your wallet in
your front pocket or carry your purse across your body so it’s more difficult
to grab and run with. Shred all documents that might have your SS number or
credit card information, don’t throw them in the trash. When shopping, cover
your credit card numbers so no one can steal them by looking over your
shoulder.
Utilize a Free Legal Advice Service such as Legal-yogi
