It has become the new buzz word and the latest scare which everyone is talking about but what is a good identity theft definition that sums up the crime? Identity theft has grown to huge proportions in the public’s mindset thanks in part to horror stories in the media and the very real fear that we are being watched in some Big Brother type way every moment of our lives. Don’t panic, however, as there are some definite ways through which you can protect yourself and minimize the risk to yourself and your family.
Identity Theft Definition
Identity theft is when someone steals your personal details and uses them to open bank accounts, store cards, apply for credit cards or just generally pretend to be you online and offline. They literally steal your identity and pose as you. If they have access to enough information about you and your passwords they can even apply for a passport in your name and other forms of identification such as a driving licence which opens all other sorts of doors into your personal life.
Identity theft might take the form of impersonating you, in other words, literally pretending to be you when buying goods and services or it might take the more sinister form of actually becoming you whereby the identity thief changes your mailing address for bank accounts and official administration. This is why it is important to be vigilant so that you can spot any unusual behavior with regards to your mail or online access and also to keep a check on your credit records as these are where the first signs will appear that someone has stolen your identity.
Prevention
In order to minimize the risk of your identity being stolen, you need to be aware of how and where you are vulnerable. The first place identity thieves look for clues as to your habits, IDs and names and addresses or other more sensitive information is your rubbish. Even junk mail can be easy pickings for anyone seeking your full name, any middle names and your full address and zip code and even home telephone number. Make sure that all correspondence with personal information on it is shredded before being thrown away.
The other place where your personal information is vulnerable is online. Always be sure of the website before submitting personal details and check for secure websites when doing online shopping. Change your passwords regularly and choose difficult passwords which consist of letters, numbers, symbols and are random. Do not use family member’s names or your birthday for numerical passwords.
Be careful when opening attachments in email or downloading files from sites which you are not 100% sure of. These could contain trojan software which installs to the hard drive of your PC and then runs quietly in the background recording every key stroke you make and sending the information to the identity thief.
Pay attention to your mail. If you are used to receiving bills through the post and they stop arriving phone the companies to check that they have not been redirected. If you misplace or lose an credit card call the company immediately to put a stop on the cards.
Be vigilant at bank machines or when using your cards to pay for goods or services in shops. Identity thieves sometimes stand behind and observe what identification numbers you are keying in.
When you sell or trade in your old PC or hard drive make sure that all the data on it is erased and not just formatted. If you just delete or format a drive it is not enough. Anyone slightly technically skilled will be able to unerase the files. Look for specialist software programs that can totally wipe out all old data. Similarly, old CDs or DVDs with important personal data on should be cut up or shredded with a special shredder.
Request your credit report annually and scrutinize it for any inconsistencies or inaccuracies because this can often highlight illegal activity before you become aware of it through other means. Look for accounts that you did not open or credit that you didn’t try to get but which appears on your report.
Lastly, keep abreast of the latest developments and scams and inform and alert friends and family and ask them to do the same for you. That way you will constantly refine and modify your behavior to keep one step ahead of the identity thieves.
[...] Identity theft might take the form of impersonating you, in other words, literally pretending to be you when buying goods and services or it might take the more sinister form of actually becoming you whereby the identity thief changes your mailing address for bank accounts and official administration. This is why it is important to be vigilant so that you can spot any unusual behavior with regards to your mail or online access and also to keep a check on your credit records as these are where the first signs will appear that someone has stolen your identity.Source: bankruptcyassistancenow.com [...]