Think identity theft can’t happen to you? Think again. Research shows that 10 million individuals will become a victim of identity theft this year. If you are not aware of the ways your identity can be stolen, it is very likely that you will be one of the millions of individuals who will have their identity stolen this year. The best defense against becoming a victim of identity theft is by knowing the 6 ways your identity can be stolen.
First, your identity can easily be stolen if you have lost or had your wallet stolen. Once a thief has obtained personal information from a driver’s license, social security card or other identifying information found in your wallet, they will often open credit card and utility accounts in your name. They will also charge large amounts of merchandise on your credit cards. Thieves will also use your identity when applying for jobs in order to use your background to pass criminal screenings.
Another way your identity can be stolen is by becoming too comfortable with your day to day happenings and let your guard down concerning your paper trail, especially your financial paper trails. Believe it or not, identity theft crimes are more likely to be done by someone you know or who you feel comfortable with. For example, if you employ someone to clean your home, you need to be sure that your personal papers are kept in a secure location within your home. Also, be aware of sales clerks, waiters or cashiers who process your credit cards for you. Untrustworthy clerks can duplicate your credit card receipt or use a special device to capture your data. Be aware of who you perceive to be trustworthy before you allow them access to your home or credit cards.
Another way thieves can steal your identity is by scouring dumpsters or trash cans in order to get receipts from financial institutions or pre-approved credit card applications. Thieves use this information to open credit card accounts in your name. They have even been known to create counterfeit checks with your bank name and account information on them. It is extremely important to not only monitor your incoming papers but to monitor your outgoing papers and shred all financial documents before trashing them.
A fourth way your identity can be stolen is through telemarketing phishing scams. Thieves call and pretend to be an employee of a popular company, such as Kmart, and fabricate a problem with your most recent payment. Most people fall for this type of scam by providing the caller with personal and financial information. Identity theft also occurs on-line through social websites. Be careful not to tell others too much about yourself as identity thieves are great at using any tidbit of personal information to take over your identity.
The fifth way thieves try to steal your identity is by watching your transactions at ATM machines. You should always be aware of your surroundings when standing at automated teller machines. An experienced thief can see pin number you type in. They may then follow you, wait for a chance to get your ATM receipt, and then have access to your bank account.
The final way to have your identity stolen is to, quite simply, fail to put protective measures in place to keep thieves from gaining access to your personal information. It doesn’t matter whether you purchase identity theft protection services or put your own steps in place to protect your identity, the fact that you are not protected will leave you susceptible to having your identity stolen.
Knowing how your identity can be stolen enables you to know how to keep from being one of the 10 million individuals who will have their identity stolen this year. It is important to become aware of how thieves can access your personal information in order to put protective measures in place.
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