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Tips for Preventing Identity Theft

Identity Theft

by Christi Lundquist

Knowing some of the things that are considered private information can help you to keep your identity safe. It's not enough anymore just to protect your social security number, but becoming more and more likely that someone can gain enough personal information to do some hefty damage on your credit.If your information ends up in the wrong hands, it can be used or sold for future use. Periodically checking your credit report can help you to keep track of how your information is being used, and by whom.

If you're under the impression that your social security number is the only way that someone can steal your identity, it's probably time you know that things are different now. In today's world, a simple phone number could be enough information for someone to rack up some bills in your name. Key pieces of your personal information can be used to order services such as phone, electric, or cable. Identity thieves also use the identities of others to obtain loans, cars, credit cards, or make big ticket purchases. Some have even gotten a driver's license under their assumed identity.

Knowing how your information ends up in the hands of would-be thieves can help you to protect your information, and helps you to keep control over your credit status. Many people readily fill out online forms, without checking to be sure that the website is legitimate. Web users are asked to fill out online forms for just about everything, but there are some that should be avoided like the plague. Here are some of the types of websites that should send up a warning flag, what they might ask for, and how you can recognize their warning signals. These websites are usually sent in an email:

Your bank will not send emails requesting your username and password in order to update their records, because of a security breach, or for any other reason. If you get an email requesting your username or password, report it as spam.
eBay and PayPal will always address you by your username, and not "valued customer" or "PayPal user". If you receive and suspicious emails, such as a message from an eBay member when you have not recently sold or purchased anything on eBay, forward the suspicious emails to either eBay or PayPal, and report the email as spam.
The ambassador of Nigeria, or any other country, would not email you to get assistance, and all you have to do is deposit a check of $35 million into your bank account, with the promise of sending a $25million wire transfer back, to an account in the U.K. This email could come from a fake minister, ambassador, Nigerian royals such as prince or princess, or could even come from a supposed heir to a fortune. Whatever their story, and it's usually a long one, disregard the possibility of becoming rich. Their "cashier checks" are generally fake or forged, and will bounce. Their hopes lie in the error of the naive, by depositing the fake check, immediately withdrawing the amount you were instructed, and instantly wiring them the money. The check may not show as having bounced for up to two weeks, overdrawing your bank account by millions.
While it is possible to purchase prescription medications over the internet, it is highly unlikely that you would be introduced to them through an uninvited email. Your best bet is to ask people you trust, double check any U.S. business through the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or do a Google search, and find the company that seems the most trustworthy, and has a secure site. (i.e., https://)

It's no small deal to have your identity stolen, and it can cause you years of credit problems if it happens to you. While some creditors are aware that it happens, and may help you to restore your credit, others have been cracking down on consumers who try to pass of bad debt as the work of an identity thief.

Mar 03, 2007

Max replied on Jul 21, 2007

There are definitely a lot of ways that thieves can steal your identity these days. However, there are some pretty basic steps you can take to block theives from ever accessing your credit if they do happen to get some of your information, such as fraud alerts and monitoring your reports. Here's an article on blocking your identity from thieves, which gives some more details.