9 Sensible Steps To Prevent Identity Theft BEFORE It Happens Unfortunately, identity theft has become the crime of the newmillenium. Though credit card companies and various agencieswork to prevent it, it is, ultimately, the responsibility ofeach individual to take their own precautionary measures againstthis crime.
Fortunately, there are some simple steps that can be taken, eventoday, to protect ourselves and, better still, prevent a theftfrom taking place at all. Below are 11 recommended steps thatanyone can take, today, to prevent this from happening or tolessen the effects if it has already happened.
At the end of this article is a list of telephone numbersEVERYONE should keep on file.
PREVENTION 1. When ordering checks never put your full name onthem, only your first initial and last name. If your checkbookis stolen the thief will not know how you sign your checks. But,because your bank keeps a copy of your signature on file, itwill and can stop the payment of checks with forged signatures.
2. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit cardaccounts, DO NOT put the whole account number on the "For" line.Your check passes through many hands, both at the credit cardcompany and at the bank, anyone of which has access to all theinformation on your check, as well as your credit card number.Instead, put only the last four digits of the account number,which is sufficient for the credit card company to identify youraccount.
3. Put your WORK phone number on your checks instead of yourhome phone number. And, if you have a PO Box use that instead ofyour home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use your workaddress. In this way, a thief cannot gain access to otheraccounts you have, some of which use the thename-address-telephone number combination for verification.
4. NEVER pre-print your social security or driver's licensenumbers on your checks. You can add it, if necessary. But if youhave it printed, anyone can get it.
5. Do NOT sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put"PHOTO ID REQUIRED" in the signature area or just leave itblank. To be really dilligent, while paying, if the clerk doesnot ask for a photo ID, make mention of this and insist onshowing it. It will teach them to be more dilligent as well.
6. Be dilligent. In rural areas, one way a thief can steal youridentity is through your mail delivery. Though it is a Federalcrime to go into someone else's mailbox, even to put somethingIN it, many mailboxes are left unattended for hours a day afterthe mail arrives. If you are missing any bills, especially acombination of utility and credit card bills, contact thecompanies immediately. With this combination thieves have beenknown to put in a "change of address" as they pay the minimum ona bill, then call and have a new card issued with the newaddress, even a new name on a secondary card. Within a week, thethief may be using your credit card without ANYTHING APPEARINGTO HAVE BEEN STOLEN.
7. While traveling abroad, keep a photocopy of your passportwith you. If the original is stolen, you can take the copy tothe local consul and prevent it from being used again.
8. Photocopy both sides of the entire contents of your wallet,including driver's license, social security card, etc. Keepthese copies in a safe place so that, if your wallet is lost orstolen, you have a quick inventory of what was in it. Write thecontact information for each company/agency with
this copy-- thesooner you can report the theft, the better. Having thecombination of your SSN and Driv Lic, as well as your creditcard information and address, thieves can do more than simplymake purchases. They can also get MORE credit cards, made out intheir own name, make major purchases, such as vehicles, evenapply for bank loans-- all in your name. Remember, time is ofthe essence.
9. Even online identities must be protected, especially emailaddresses related to individual websites. Spammers use robots tocomb the internet for email addresses like these, then insertyour email address in the "from" section of their Spam, thusavoiding detection or causing the complaints to be reverted toyou. Scammers use this information as the contact email fordisreputable sales, such as in auction sites like eBay. Thereare simple, free programs available (such as the scrambler atacme-web-design.info) that will scramble the email addresses onwebsites.
PROTECTION, POST THREAT If or when your credit cards orcheckbook are lost or stolen there are still several steps youcan take to lessen the severity of the theft. Most of all, thefaster you act, the less you will suffer. Identity thieves knowthey are working against the clock and will dump yourinformation as soon as they sense that the theft has beendetected. If you're very dilligent, you may escape with littleor no damage.
1. Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations (thesetelephone numbers are listed below) immediately to place a fraudalert on your name and Social Security number. The alert meansany company that checks your credit knows your information wasstolen, and they have to contact you by phone to authorize newcredit or charges.
2. File a police report immediately within the jurisdictionwhere your wallet stolen. This proves to credit providers youwere diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation(if there ever is one).
3. Alert the credit card companies and your bank personally.
4. Sign Up with a reputable identity theft prevention service.Don't assume you are part of one just because your credit cardcompany has some protection available. This only protects youraccount with THEM. These companies will collect all thenecessary information from you and, with one call, most or allof the steps, above, will be handled by them.
Below are the contact numbers you need When your wallet has beenstolen. The first three are the major credit agencies, and thefourth is the fraud line at the Social Security Administration.A driver's license or passport will be reported when the policeare notified.
1. Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
2. Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
3. Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289
4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271
Though Identity theft is one of the worst crimes of our time,these simple steps and pre-cautions can save the averageconsumer months, if not years, of grief and very real damage totheir financial status. No one is safe.--mo
About the author:
Marige O'Brien works as a writer, web designer and InternetMarketer. Visit her Website,
Tracker Mo's Den. For othersolutions to identity theft, visit Pre-Paid LegalServices, Inc., which offers Identity TheftShield.
