Prevent Identity Theft With A Few Basic Steps

Identity theft is a severe crime that is spreading annually. If you are a victim of identity theft you might spend months, possibly years, attempting to mend a damaged credit history. An extremely ruined credit file could compromise your opportunities of acquiring a new job, a bank loan, insurance or even rental housing. It's even possible to be arrested for a crime you didn't commit if someone else has utilized your identity to break the law.

Unfortunately, several of the means that criminals utilize to snatch identities are beyond your control to shield against. Although it is seldom, even store clerks have been known to take advantage of their position to pass along information to identity thieves. There are a few actions you could take, nonetheless, that can make it more difficult for a thief to swipe your identity.

Protect Your Credit Card Number When Making Purchases

Subsequent to you making a purchase and your credit or debit card has been processed through a credit card terminal, investigate to be sure that the printed receipt disguises every number but the last four digits of your credit card account number (most likely there will be Xs in place of the 1st twelve digits). Some terminals continue to print receipts that show all sixteen digits of an account number, and may even consist of the date the card expires too. After your card is swiped, you are authorized by law to mask the 1st twelve digits of your account number on the duplicate of the receipt that the merchant keeps. Apply any marking pen that can do the task.

When you dine at a restaurant, it is especially vital to be sure that the 1st twelve digits of your credit card number are hidden on your receipt. You may be in the custom of endorsing it and then leaving the restaurant's copy on the table after your meal. A criminal could simply swipe the signed receipt prior to the waitperson coming back around to retrieve it from the table. Don't take any risks.

Do You Really Have To Offer Your Social Security Number?

Another important way that you could protect against identity theft is to withdraw from offering your social security number except under the circumstances that it is definitely necessary. Although you have to give your social security number upon applying for a loan or for a bank account, sometimes a business or an organization will need to utilize it as an identification number, only to identify you in their network. This is a common routine although the law says that social security numbers are not to be maintained as identification numbers. In this situation, use your judgment. There's generally an alternative if you question.

Eliminate Forms That Include Sensitive Personal Information

Invest in a paper shredder and apply it to terminate forms you are getting rid of which include personal information such as credit card numbers, social security numbers, telephone numbers and dates of birth. This is critical to do both at home and your place of employment. Identity thieves are not above sifting through people's garbage to discover valuable personal information that could help them obtain credit in someone's name.

If The Worst Happens

If you do turn into a victim of identity theft, take the following actions without delay:

• Contact your credit card companies, stop your accounts and ask to have new cards sent to you.
• Place a fraud alert on your report with any 1 of the three major credit bureaus. The other two will be informed automatically.
• Put in a police report. You might need it to show to creditors as evidence of the illegal act.
• Put in a complaint with the FTC, which preserves a filing system of identity theft cases used by law enforcement agencies for their investigations.

Fred Hopkins is a 9 year consumer finance veteran, helping people prevent identity theft and protecting their credit. He also posts lifelock reviews, in addition to the wealth of information on http://www.mountaintopmtg.net.

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