- As the world relies more
and more on computers to store personal information like
social security number, identity theft is quickly becoming
common. Sadly, most people don’t realize their identity
has been stolen until their credit rating is destroyed.
With the world often choosing plastic at the checkout
stand or doing Christmas shopping online, important
information is available in all kinds of places. High-tech
thieves can hijack your payment information from a
company’s Internet database; simple thugs will just snatch
the credit card. Either way, you’ll soon find purchases
are being made against your will and without your
knowledge.
Over one million cases of identity theft were reported
this year and state governments have been slow to respond
with punishment for the culprits. Often, victims don’t
realize they are under attack for a year, while their
credit balance rockets out of control.
Companies who don’t receive payment because of identity
thieves will dismiss the charges, but will break even by
charging customers high interest rates. Therefore, it is
important that all consumers take steps to put an end to
identity theft.
First, you need to secure your personal credit rating.
Requesting a credit report has never been easier and new
federal laws entitle all citizens to one free report each
year. Use this opportunity to examine your record for
anything out of the ordinary.
Secondly, you have to guard your private information very
carefully. Social security numbers and credit card PINS
should be memorized not carried in an easily accessible
purse or wallet. Make account passwords difficult to guess
using capital and lower case letters as well as symbols
and numbers. Schedule billing cycles and handle your bills
correctly. Any bills received off-schedule should be
treated cautiously. When you no longer need to keep bills
for your records, destroy them with an electronic paper
shredder to keep your information private.
Guard how your social security number enters and leaves
your house. Send mail only using secured postal service
mail drops since thieves often steal directly from the
front porch. Never tell your number to someone you cannot
see or do not know well, like a phone salesperson. When on
vacation, request a mail-stop to prevent bills from piling
up as targets for thieves.
Lastly, join a credit monitoring service for regular
updates about your rating and keep a list of all important
card and social security information in case you need to
reset damaged accounts. Together, we can all take
precautions to protect our identity and ourselves.
