| The first and most important thing you can do | | | | tiny pieces into more than one trash bag so |
| to become better prepared and protected | | | | even if one bag is found the card could not |
| against identity theft is to lose the | | | | be put back together. Report any stolen or |
| attitude that "it could never happen to you". | | | | lost credit cards immediately. Destroy |
| Identity theft is much more common than most | | | | receipts, tax information, credit card |
| people believe, and the belief that it won't | | | | applications, mortgage information or |
| happen to you leaves you much more vulnerable | | | | cancelled checks before throwing away- and |
| than someone who actively takes steps to | | | | keep such documents in files in a locked file |
| protect themselves against the crime. | | | | cabinet inside your home. Don't rule out the |
| Identity thieves are able to obtain | | | | possibility of the babysitter or housekeeper |
| information they need to assume someone | | | | or guests taking paperwork lying around your |
| else's identity- often with little effort. | | | | home. Keep a close eye on your credit reports |
| Take Care to Protect Personal Information Do | | | | and credit card statements to watch for |
| you shred information before you throw it | | | | anything out of the ordinary, or transactions |
| away? The easiest way for identity thieves to | | | | you know you didn't make. Investigate |
| gather information to assume your identity is | | | | anything suspicious immediately. If You Are a |
| through the paperwork you throw in the trash. | | | | Victim of Identity Theft Victims of identity |
| You may as well hand a thief your credit | | | | theft often spend months or years trying to |
| card, social security card and driver's | | | | recover from the crime. Not only may it cost |
| license if you're throwing out (without | | | | victims money, but their credit score is |
| shredding) credit applications, resumes, | | | | going to be ruined and will take work and |
| credit card and utility bill statements. | | | | time to repair. While the three major credit |
| Sometimes thieves will intercept your | | | | bureaus do have policies for fixing credit |
| incoming or outgoing mail by taking items | | | | scores and reports after identity theft |
| from your mailbox. With enough information, | | | | crimes have occurred, it does take a long |
| perhaps gathered through various bank | | | | time for the errors to be corrected and |
| statements or credit card applications, the | | | | repaired. Before the report and score is |
| data can be pieced together by a thief to use | | | | corrected, the victim is going to have a |
| your name to apply for loans and credit in | | | | difficult time obtaining any sort of |
| your name. You may want to consider mailing | | | | financing (from credit cards to student loans |
| documents from a post office mailbox rather | | | | to car loans or mortgages). In some extreme |
| than a personal mailbox- the little red flag | | | | cases, identity theft victims are even |
| you put up on your box to signal your mail | | | | arrested for crimes they didn't commit. Being |
| carrier that you have mail waiting for pick | | | | a victim of identity theft interrupts your |
| up is also a signal for identity thieves of a | | | | life. It is far easier to take appropriate |
| potential victim! Preventing Identity Theft | | | | steps to protect yourself than it is to |
| Other than shredding paperwork prior to | | | | repair your credit reports and credit score |
| throwing it away, there are a few other | | | | after your identity has been stolen. |
| methods you can use in order to protect | | | | |
| yourself against identity theft: Cut credit | | | | Destroy Debt offers tools and advice advice |
| cards into tiny pieces before throwing away, | | | | to help you reduce debt. |
| even if the card has expired, and throw the | | | | |