Most people have seen the television commercials about identity theft. One commercial starts out seeing the face of an older lady who is speaking in a man’s voice about the thrill of spending someone else’s money. Or, another commercial of a man speaking in a lady’s voice also telling what "she" purchased with "his" personal information.
Identity theft is when someone uses another person's personal information, such as a name, date of birth or Social Security number, to get things for themselves. Identity thieves can obtain employment, loans, credit cards, utilities or even purchase a home using someone else's personal information. It is one of the fastest growing crimes, yet many people may not know their identity was stolen for up to a year after it happens.
Identity theft victims may encounter refusal of credit because credit ratings have been ruined. Victim's wages can be garnished because of outstanding bills, or the police may even be looking for a victim of crimes he or she did not commit.
There are a number of ways thieves can steal someone's identity. Stealing a wallet or purse is the most obvious way, but thieves also can find personal information around homes, dorm rooms or apartments through mail left laying around. Information can be gained from phone conversations held in public places or by intercepting cell phone calls. Dumpster diving can reward thieves with information from insurance papers, health records, financial statements, credit card carbons, etc.
Thieves also can use binoculars or cameras (including cell phone cameras) to "shoulder surf" as one is punching in numbers in an ATM machine. This can be in a crowded public place or as far away as across the street.
Identity thieves can fraudulently attain a credit report by posing as a landlord or employer. Or, they can randomly type in numbers to duplicate Social Security numbers.
Citizens can protect themselves from identity thief by not carrying their Social Security cards with them. It's also important to keep mail private in a safe place in the home, especially if there are roommates or frequent visitors, and put a hold on mail if going to be gone for several days.
A payment check in an apartment, street or rural mailbox can be a sitting duck for identity thief, according the Better Business Bureau. When paying bills, use a Post Office box instead of leaving the envelopes in a personal mailbox.
When shopping on the Internet, use reputable businesses that have a secure and encrypted site. A way to check is to look in the address bar and find an "https" instead of the usual "http."
It's also important not give personal information over the phone or Internet, unless initiating the process. This especially is important if being contacted about winning a prize and personal information needs to be "re-confirmed." Also, do not give personal information on a public Internet site such as a family or class reunion site.
Security also can be increased by checking bills and credit cards monthly. Be sure to call the companies if anything suspicious shows up.
In addition, passwords are important. Fido is a good name for a dog, but a terrible password for a computer or financial accounts. Hackers know that people use common names for their computer IDs and passwords. Use a combination of letters and numbers and change passwords on a regular basis.
Also, be cautious of using public computers at school, hotels or other places to check e-mail. Be sure to "log off" the computer browser. Internet chat rooms, e-mail and instant messages are other places personal information should not be used.
Be sure to keep the phone numbers of credit card companies in a safe place, so if there is a problem, they can be alerted. For added safety, check credit reports annually from the three different credit agencies Equifax, Experian and Trans Union. Contact all three because they get their information from different services.
Victims of identity theft should take action immediately by filing a police report and sending the police report to the three credit agencies so they can put a "fraud alert" on the account. Be sure to contact creditors and request being contacted before opening new accounts. Close all credit accounts and request ATM accounts with new passwords and PIN numbers. For more information, contact the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-IDTHEFT. Other federal agencies also may need to be alerted.
