Identity theft is not only the thing many people still don’t like to bother about but also the thing which can take your identity, your credits, your finances and ruin them. So if you don’t want to find your life in ruins one day, you are to know your enemy and fight it wisely. Annual reports on identity theft warn everyone that the number of identity theft crimes will increase considerably within the next several years. Undoubtedly, the best way to avoid identity theft is to make purchases only with reputable companies, websites, payment gateways and so on, but still there are lots of things which depend on you and you are to care of them to back up your identity data.
Basic types of identity theft you have to be aware of:
- financial fraud
- credit/debit card fraud
- saving account fraud
- checking account fraud
- identity cloning (someone uses your identity to live a separate life)
- mortgage/loan account fraud
- computer crimes
- drug trafficking
- shoplifting
If the above list rings the bell, you should have a look at the following tips and make sure you know what to do on your side to prevent identity theft.
1) Don’t just through away discarded mail (bank statements, credit card solicitations, account statements, etc.) because this is a great opportunity for thieves to stole your ID.
2) Never store your personal information at work.
3) If you store your financial data at home on your computer or online, make sure your back ups are 100% reliable.
4) In case you have credit cards you don’t use regularly, you should check them for activity or use them at least once a month to make sure that none else is using them.
5) This can sound weird but great number of identity theft cases is committed by family members, relatives, friends and roommates. Beware.
6) Every time you travel to other countries, notify your credit card company that you will be out of the country during a certain period.
7) Remember that your social security account should be checked periodically.
Image credit: Red door
