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