Prevent Identity Theft
Jul 19, 2009 Business Loan
Top Loan Related Sites:
I’ve heard so much about identity theft, and it scares me to think that I could wake up tomorrow and my bank account could be cleaned out, my credit report could be ruined and my life could be set into a horrible mess. But I’ve learned a lot of ways to prevent a thief from robbing me blind, and here are some f the best things I’ve found to protect yourself.
First, make sure you are on the government’s Do Not Call list, and not just your home phone. Be sure to add in all mobile phones in your household. You can add the numbers at www.donotcall.gov or call 1-888-382-1222.
Another key thing to keep your credit safe is to review your credit report at least once a year. However, don’t fall for a pitch where you have to sign up for a recurring service just to see your credit report. The reality is that you can get a copy of your credit report once a year without paying anything. There are three major credit bureaus you need to keep up with. Visit www.AnnualCreditReport.com to get more information.
Avoid giving to charities you aren’t familiar with, and if you are interested in giving to a new charity, check them out with the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance at www.give.org. Scam charities are more common than you might think, and some are sophisticated with call centers, web sites and professional presentations.
Probably the most effective and misunderstood method of identity theft is ‘phishing’, which is the process of trying to send messages to unsuspecting people in an attempt to trick that person into providing sensitive information. The most common is sending out an email that says your account has been compromised, and that you need to click a link and enter your account details. Then any person who clicks the link is taken to a site that looks very official, and when they enter their information, it’s stolen. If you are at all concerned about your account, contact the company in question directly. Do not respond to a random email. The most recent phishing attacks use text messages to your phone, so you need to be aware of the different methods for prevention.
You can prevent someone stealing your information from old bills and mail by using a cross cut shredder. The most important documents to shred are anything with a name, account number, address or phone number.
Look for Opt-Out option s wherever you can, which means to avoid getting junk mail as well as companies that you have accounts with being allowed to share your information. When you get a policy update letter from any company or service you use, review it.
Check your credit card and phone bills each month carefully. Of course it’s a major concern if you see charges on a credit card that you didn’t make, but many people don’t really look over the transactions listed on their statement each month.
Another key point with the mail: thieves use change of address cards to divert mail to another location and get your information. Some accounts will alert you that your information has changed; most will not. Be aware.
Protecting yourself from identity theft isn’t something you can ignore. If you want more information on free, cheap and effective methods for protection, see the resources listed below.
Related Articles
Tags: Business Loan, Identity Theft, Lifelock, money
Leave a Reply