| Identity theft is a very lengthy and ugly ordeal. It | | | | manually. This will help ensure that information is |
| is next to impossible to reverse and it can take | | | | safe should your checkbook be stolen. |
| several years before credit companies stop | | | | 10. Always take great care in checking not only |
| bothering you constantly with collection calls. In | | | | your bank statements but also your credit card |
| addition, it may cost you thousands of dollars to | | | | statements to ensure that everything is correct |
| fight. | | | | and all transactions are ones that are familiar to |
| How does identity theft occur? It occurs when an | | | | you. If you find something you do not recognize, |
| identity thief obtains your social security number, | | | | file a dispute immediately. You can file disputes up |
| bank account numbers, birth date and other | | | | to 60 days after something is not correct in most |
| pertinent information. After they steal your | | | | states; but after that, the money is gone |
| information, they can easily order your birth | | | | forever, even if it was a fraudulent transaction. |
| certificate online. All numbers lead to you. | | | | Many crooks are learning how to make E.F.T. |
| The following 12 tips can help save your identity | | | | withdrawals from bank accounts by using the |
| and your sanity. | | | | swiping machines you have used to purchase |
| 1. Order your credit report from each of the | | | | items at legitimate companies / stores to make |
| three credit reporting companies. You are allowed | | | | duplicate or larger charges later on. |
| one free credit report from each of these | | | | 11. When looking for a job online, it's always best |
| agencies every year. Check your credit report | | | | to visit your desired place of employment in |
| carefully and close any accounts that you no | | | | person when it's necessary to give out your |
| longer use. | | | | personal information and identification. There are |
| 2. Avoid carrying your checkbook with you unless | | | | job postings from seemingly well-known |
| it's absolutely necessary. Many identity thefts | | | | companies seeking someone with your job skills. |
| occur by stealing checkbooks and forging checks. | | | | After you contact them via email, a phone call will |
| A thief can take scrapings from the check below | | | | ensue later on. During the subsequent phone calls, |
| the prior check to obtain your signature. (The | | | | you will be asked to give out more and more |
| same rule applies to credit cards.) | | | | personal and financial information, including your |
| 3. Guard your social security number, birth date, | | | | social security number. Don't go there. Always go |
| and your mother's maiden name with extra care. | | | | to the brick and mortar building and into the |
| Without this information, an identity thief will be | | | | human resources office to fill out an application. If |
| unable to steal your identity. | | | | it's out-state, then go online to find out the |
| 4. Avoid putting paid bills and anything that | | | | corporate headquarters office and call them |
| contains personal information and your signature in | | | | directly, without using the phone number the |
| your home mailbox. Instead, take them to the | | | | person in the email or on the job site provided. |
| Post Office or hand them to your mail carrier. If | | | | (There are more detailed scams than this one, |
| you work outside of your home, bring them to | | | | but you get the picture.) |
| work and drop them in the mail slot at your work. | | | | 12. Never pay to recover money you have lost in |
| Many thieves pickpocket out of mailboxes. Once a | | | | a scam. There are companies that offer to help |
| thief has your mail at his / her home, they open | | | | you recover money that you've been scammed |
| it and use special chemical washes over the | | | | out of for only a small fee. These companies are |
| checks to wipe out all the information with the | | | | often headed by the very company that |
| exception of your signature. Now they have a | | | | scammed you out of the money in the first place. |
| blank check with your signature on it and can | | | | The facts are that sadly, you will most likely |
| drain your bank account. | | | | never recover money lost in a scam, but it's best |
| 5. Purchase a good paper shredder. The cost of a | | | | to leave that up to the authorities. That doesn't |
| paper shredder is a lot less money than credit | | | | mean you can't or shouldn't be proactive, but |
| card offers stolen and taken out in your name. | | | | certainly don't pay anyone to help you recover |
| Shred all old documents that have any information | | | | the money. |
| about you, as well as bank records, tax records | | | | The last tip is to say thank you to the store clerk |
| that are no longer needed and any offers, | | | | who asks for your I.D. when you use your credit |
| especially credit card offers that come in the mail. | | | | card. It always amazes me when clerks don't |
| A safe bet is to shred any paper with your | | | | check for I.D. or signature validation when they |
| information on it that you no longer need. | | | | accept a credit card or a check. |
| 6. Never trust an email that asks you to click on | | | | I have often asked about this and the answer is |
| a link from a company that may have any | | | | always the same, "If you have the credit card, |
| information about you. Instead, open your | | | | you must be the owner." The thoughtful store |
| browser and hand type in the website URL you | | | | clerks who do ask for I.D. are acting as a safety |
| are familiar with, not the one in the email, if you | | | | net for you and are watchdogs for your finances. |
| believe you need to respond. Better yet, call the | | | | Be thankful and happy they are willing to do their |
| institution with the phone number you already | | | | job correctly and take the time to ensure your |
| have on file. This rule applies to more than just | | | | safety. |
| banking information. Never click on links inside an | | | | If you feel you have fallen victim to identity theft, |
| email from eBay, Paypal, your ISP provider, the | | | | fraud or have been ripped off by a company, |
| I.R.S., etc. All of these accounts have your bank | | | | always file a dispute with the Better Business |
| or credit card information in them. | | | | Bureau (BBB); and if it's fraud related, contact |
| 7. Forget taking surveys via telephone. If | | | | your local police department as well as the F.B.I. |
| someone calls to ask you to participate in a | | | | Then be sure to add fraud alerts to all of your |
| survey, the person calling is getting a lot of | | | | bank and credit card accounts. You can also add a |
| personal information about you that is none of | | | | fraud alert with the credit monitoring services |
| their business. Politely state that you aren't | | | | such as TransUnion and Experian. You only need |
| interested, to please take you off their list and | | | | to add this information to one of the services, as |
| then hang up. | | | | they will forward your information to the others. |
| 8. The Social Security Administration sends out a | | | | The best way to help avoid identity theft, rip-offs |
| statement every year (about four months prior | | | | and scams is to be alert and on the lookout. |
| to your birth date) with your information. Check it | | | | Punishment for identity thieves seems to be next |
| carefully to make sure it's accurate. | | | | to impossible to achieve. The only way you can |
| 9. Do not add your social security number, phone | | | | really protect yourself is by taking the steps |
| number or driver's license number to your checks. | | | | needed to help prevent identity theft from |
| If the information is required by a store, you can | | | | occurring. |
| always write that information on the check | | | | |