Identity theft is a growing problem in the United
States, occurring in small towns and cities
alike. It is important not to panic when your identity is stolen, since you
will need your sense to take the appropriate steps to recover your life.
Few identity theft victims have found them self-fighting
their credit reports years after the theft occurred. One victim became the
target of various crimes committed against his family, including finding
bankruptcy on his files when the man had a successful life and had never filed
bankruptcy at all.
When identity theft occurs and continues as the victims, we
pay for the crime, since services, foods, products et cetera are increased and
we pay the cost. The government may be working hard to fight the crime.
But in all honesty when the World Wide Web is utilized to
commit crimes, it is often difficult since the Internet is World Wide and
evidence is often buried in the servers and connections easily. When evidence
is buried, it becomes very difficult to uncover the tracks.
There are many things that you can do to keep yourself from
experiencing identity theft. One of the first things you can do is protect your
social security number. Do not get it printed on checks or on your driver's
license. Next, purchase a paper shredder.
Once you've purchased it, put it together, plug it in, and
use it! When in doubt, don't toss it out. Shred it! Shred anything with your
social security number, name and address, or any other pertinent information on
it. In addition, keep a close watch on your checking account and credit card
statements. Report anything unusual as soon as possible.
New Social Security Number
Under certain circumstances, identity theft victims may require
a new social security number if the perpetrator continues to use their
identity. However, new numbers does not mean that you will have a new life.
Therefore, your previous number may affect the new number,
or else the thief is holding your information and may have links to the new
number.
You should guard your information with your life to prevent
identity theft or becoming the identity theft victim. Identity theft statistics
has shown that millions of people in 2003 alone were identity theft victims.
Tips For Preventing Identity Theft
- The
first step if you become an identity theft is to notify your local
authorities immediately and provide all that you are knowledgeable of to
the authorities.
- FTC
Consumer Alert - Next, you will need to visit the FTC Consumer Alert site
or Federal Trade Commission Consumer Alert page and report the crime to
the government officials who will have a broader reach in finding the
perpetrator.
- Fraud
Alerts - At the site, you can report the identity theft crime to the three
credit bureaus as well, where for three months the bureaus will place a
Fraud Alert on your reports.
Unfortunately, the alerts does nothing more
than alert creditors that someone has done some legal activities with your
information, which creditors may assume that the illegal activities were
conducted by you.
Thus, Fraud Alerts do nothing, but create more problems
and leaves the door open for the perpetrator to continue using your
identity.
- Social
Security Administration - Thus, what to do when your identity is stolen is
continue the battle to restore your life. It depends on what information
the perpetrator stole, but you should report to the Social Security
Administration and Department of Motor Vehicle also if you are a victim of
identity theft.
- Passwords
- The Federal Trade Commission may recommend that you request that your
banking providers provide you with new 'passwords' and monitor your
accounts for a time, however closing the counts and open new accounts
might be a better choice.
- Watch
your Credit Reports - You will also need to keep a watch over your credit
reports and statements regularly if you are a victim of identity theft.
Keeping watch over your statements and reports will let you know where you
stand in the identity theft crime.
- Credit
Cards - If you have, credit cards are sure to contact your providers
immediately to alert them of the fraud. If the perpetrator took hold of
your material information, cancel all of your credit cards immediately.
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