How To Protect Your Identity When Determined Thieves Want It
by Roy Primm
Identity theft is a serious crime
that is growing each year. If you're a victim of identity theft, you
may spend months, even years trying to repair a ruined credit history.
A seriously damaged credit report can destroy your chances of getting a new job, a bank loan, insurance or even an apartment.
It's even possible go to jail for a crime you didn't commit if someone else used your identity to break the law.
Many people face lawsuits in court as victims of identity theft, taking them many months and thousands of dollars to correct.
In the past many of the methods thieves used to steal
your identity were beyond your control to guard against. For
example, store clerks have used their position to pass along
information to identity thieves.
There are measures you can take now that will make it harder for a thief to steal your identity. Use them to protect yourself.
I. Protect Your Credit Card Number When Making Purchases
After you make a purchase and the clerk swipes your card, what should you do?
When the clerk hands you the
receipt to sign, make sure the receipt hides all but the last 4 digits
of your credit card account number. Note: Usually they should have Xs
in place of the first 12 digits).
Some terminals still print
receipts that show all 16 digits of an account number, and may even
include the expiration date as well. This is an identity theft waiting
to happen.
Here's the solution:
After they swipe your card, you
can by law hide the first 12 digits of your account number on the copy
of the receipt the salesperson keeps. Use any marking pen to blot over
the numbers.
When you go to a restaurant, it's especially important to make sure the first 12 digits of your credit card number doesn't show on your receipt. If they do mark over them yourself. Before handing back to the clerk.
You might be in the habit of
signing it and then leaving the restaurant's copy on the table after
your meal. An identity thief can easily steal the signed receipt before
the waitperson comes back around to pick it up from the table. Don't
take any chances.
II. Do You Need To Give Your Social Security Number?
Another important way that you can guard against identity theft is
to avoid giving out your social security number unless you can't avoid
it..
For example you usually need to share your social security number when you apply for credit or for a bank account.
But sometimes a store or an organization will want to use it as an ID number, simply to identify you within their data base.
This is a common practice even
though the law says don't use social security numbers as ID numbers.
Use your best judgment. There's usually an alternative if you ask.
III. Destroy Documents That Contain Sensitive Personal Information
Buy a paper shredder and use it to destroy documents you're
throwing away which contain personal information such as credit card
numbers, social security numbers, phone numbers and dates of birth.
This is important to do both at home and at work.
Identity thieves will stoop to
going through your trash to find valuable personal information that can
help them gain credit in your name.
If The Worst Happens ...
If you do become a victim of identity theft, take the following steps immediately:
1. Contact your credit card companies
, close your accounts and ask to have new cards issued to you.
2. Place a fraud alert on your file with any one of the three major credit bureaus. They automatically inform the other two credit bureaus.
3. File a police report. You may need it to show to creditors as proof of the crime.
4. File a complaint with the FTC, which keeps a
database of identity theft cases used by law enforcement agencies for
their investigations.
If you take the time to follow the these tips
you'll make it harder for identity thieves to steal your most valuable
asset - your identity.
