Identity theft has become a major issue in the last few decades. Having our personal information given out online, over the phone, and through the mail has made it fairly easy for someone to steal your identity. Identity theft can cause years of credit repair which is not an easy task.
People can steal your identity in ways that you might not know. Hacking a computer, going through garbage, pick pocketing, and security breaches are just some of them. It is difficult to track how someone actually steals ones identity, but there are many things we can do to try and prevent it.
One popular thing that financial institutions offer is identity theft protection. Their services usually include credit monitoring and fraud alerts through credit bureaus. This may be a worthwhile investment, but there are things you can do personally to offer more protection.
One easy thing you can do to hide your personal information is shredding all your mail and paperwork with any personal information. Keep track of any ID cards, social security cards, and banks cards so you will always know where they are kept. Aside from stealing material objects, there are millions of ways identities are stolen online or over the phone.
Never give out any personal information over the phone or online unless you are sure it will be protected. Sometimes people use scams on a number of different websites to steal this personal information. Classified ads, emails, and job search sites are just a few you should be aware of.
Many people don’t know when their identity is stolen. There are many things you can do to detect identity theft. Always review your bank and credit accounts. Credit reports can also be helpful in providing some insight. If you see any discrepancies, you should always look into it.
If you do suspect identity theft, the first thing you must do is call all your financial institutions and have them put your accounts on hold. You don’t want to close them in case nothing ends up being wrong. Next, you will need to file an “identity theft” report with the police department. Lastly, you will need to notify the credit bureaus so they can place a fraud alert onto your credit. This will prevent further credit repair.
While taking these preventative measure may not completely protect you from all identity theft, it can really lower the risk. If you are not careful with your personal information you will regret it once your money is gone and your credit is damaged. Credit repair is a long and heavy road both financially and emotionally. Make sure you do all you can to guard yourself.
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