How to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft
In: id-theft
14 Feb 2011Best ways not to become Identity Theft Victim
You can take several basic steps that will help you to avoid being the Identity Theft Victim.
Though it will not completely secure you, the risk will be decreased to minimum.
The first and perhaps the most useful step is checking your credit records regularly. This is the best way to uncover someone is using your identity, moreover it’s the quickest way – so the intruder will have less time to dig into your budget. In the credit report you will see all accounts under your name, and if some of them were disturbed by the other person, you will see it immediately. Even the slightest suspect is worth your attention.
Second step is to be careful with your private information. Never give away any personal data to anyone you do not trust enough. This will secure you from being the Identity Theft Victim Sometimes you have to use you private information to verify your identity. For example, in bank you most likely will be asked of your mother’s maiden name, as the manager will ask it in case you call them for your account data. Still if anyone is calling to you with this question, you’re not obliged to answer. Moreover, the less information you leave on your bank checks, the safer your
identity will be.
Do not trust to the unknown person calling you by phone and offering bank services, like the instant opening of the credit card, and asking for the private information of any kind. Telling anything to such person is the direct way to become the Identity Theft Victim. To avoid it, ask for the written application. If they refuse, just decline their service and hang up.
During your travel arrange your mail to be held in the post office until you return. You can also ask your friend to collect the mails during your absence. It is important not to leave them in the mail box for long time, as anyone can pick them up from there.
Do not speak out any private data while you’re in a public place or anywhere, where people can listen to your conversation.
Check the incoming credit reports on regular basis and check carefully if all the transactions were
approved by you.
Ask for report copies to save them for future.
The easiest way to avoid becoming the Identity Theft Victim and to have the perfect credit report is to get FREE online credit report. This will level up your Credit Score and enable you to correct your credit using Legalhelper service.
The credit score you have will affect the future credits you may ask for. May it be an auto loan, a mortgage or just new credit card opening, everything will be much easier with clear and clean credit record. Lenders will use this data to decide if you’re really worth the credit you need. The better score you have, the more credit you get.
In: id-theft
1 Feb 2011If you have become the victim of Identity theft, there are certain reports you need to provide that will help you resolve credit problems. First of all, you want to be sure a Fraud Alert is issued and that an Identity Theft Report is provided to the credit reporting agencies.
There are two types of fraud alert: initial alerts which last 90 days and extended alerts which last for seven years. You should immediately have a fraud alert placed on your credit report if you think you have been or are about to be the victim of Identity theft. If you have actually been the victim of Identity theft and can prove it, you can have an extended alert placed in your record. This provides you with an additional free credit report each year so that you can watch your credit report more closely.
To place an alert or remove a Fraud Alert from your credit record, you’ll need to be able to provide proof of your Identity which many include your social security number and other personal information that the consumer reporting agency may request. After the alert is placed, each time you apply for credit, you will be required to provide verification of your identity before the credit is extended. This will keep others from obtaining credit in your name.
An Identity Theft Report has two parts. Part one is filed with a local, state or federal law enforcement agency which may include the local police, State Attorney, FBI, FTC or U.S. Postal Inspection Service. There is no law stating that any of these agencies must make a report.
The second part, Part Two of the Identity Theft Report requires that you contact the credit reporting agencies and provide information or documentation requested which will include a law enforcement report so that they can verify your identity theft. They have five days to review any information you submit and may request additional information within 15 days of your report. If any requested information is not provided to the consumer credit bureau within the time they state, you will probably have your Identity Theft Report rejected as incomplete. Be sure to follow up and get all requested information to the proper authorities as quickly as possible.
These reports do not change the fact that you will need to close any accounts that you suspect have been or may be in the future fraudulently accessed. You will have to go through the process of opening new accounts with creditors, bankers and other services that you feel are in jeopardy. However, these reports will help protect your credit rating and ensure you do not experience the heartbreak of learning that you can not be granted credit easily, even though you – the REAL you – has an excellent payment history because of the actions of an identity thief.
In: id-theft
1 Feb 2011There is a problem plaguing corporate America today. And it is a serious enough problem that could have repercussions on the very nature of our economy. This is a problem that can strike any one of us who ever held a credit card or a bank debit card or ever shopped online. The problem is one that has come to be known as identity theft. And the repercussions are more than mere identity. Estimates of the financial fall out of identity theft range from a few billion dollars a year to as much as 480 billion dollars! And experts in the field of identity theft only claim that it is growing by the day.
Identity theft first made an appearance in the news headlines when the odd shopper or credit card holder reported the loss of a small amount of money. Frequently, this was discovered to be related to fraud more than identity theft. One particular case the made the headlines pertained to a man who had been buying pornography on the Internet and had used his wife’s credit card. When he was found out, as he ultimately would have been found, he cried Identity theft and lodged a complaint. Turns out the man had not even bothered to cover his tracks. The IP address of his computer was tracked to the websites he had visited and the hoax of identity theft was quickly discovered and plugged.
But there are several genuine cases of identity theft that occur on an alarmingly frequent basis. A recent news report mentioned the theft of a laptop computer from the home of a retired banker that had the credit card details of over one thousand of the bank’s clients. Why the retired banker had the information was irrelevant. What was relevant was that the theft was discovered in time to prevent any large scale Identity theft.
But the thieves have been getting smarter and better. One of the more common methods of identity theft nowadays involves fraudulent retailers who set up dummy retail outlets on the banking network and try out stolen credit cards for nominal charges. Once they are approved, they typically make a large withdrawal from a nearby automated teller machine.
But as the perpetrators of identity theft get smarter, the banks too have begun installing security features that make it more and more difficult for the fraudsters. Today’s network security systems are smart enough to enable bankers to spot the first instances of identity theft almost as soon as the theft occurs. But a lot more needs to be done to restore the faith of the general public in the infallibility of their credit cards.
You can do you part in reducing the incidence of identity theft by becoming knowledgable about identity theft and how you can protect yourself from becoming the next identity theft victim.
In: id-theft
1 Feb 2011The realization that identity theft was a real problem was brought to my attention when the son of a close friend went to purchase a car. When he applied for the car loan he was told that he had a credit problem and his loan request was denied. This was a complete surprise to him. As far as he knew his credit record was outstanding. He discovered he was a victim of identity theft!
| Citibank Hacker Geek Identity Theft Commercial | Hacker Geek – One of the 3 Original CitiBank Identity Theft Commercials! This Citibank commercial shows a black lady in salon with nerd computer geek voice! Funny! | 4.5 stars |
| Citibank Thelma and Norma Identity Theft Commercial | Thelma and Norma – Thelma and Norma are hog heads in this Citi Identity Theft Solutions commercial. | 4.5 stars |
| Citibank Babe Magnet Identity Theft Commercial | Babe Magnet – One of the best CitiBank Identity Theft commercials out there! Hilarious! Chinese Lady with the voice of a creepy bachelor. | 4.5 stars |
| Citibank Ooh La La Identity Theft Commercial | Ooh La La – In this Citi Identity Theft commercial, a red headed lady with the voice of a rich French guy in Paris. Pretty Funny! | 4.5 stars |
| Citibank sexy Outfit Identity Theft Commercial | Sexy Outfit – The 1st and the best one of these Citibank Identity Theft Commercials!! Shows a fat man drinking in his chair with the valley girl voice! *(2004 Emmy Winner -Best Commercial)* | 4.5 stars |
| Citibank Saddlebags Identity Theft Commercial | Saddlebags – Eric Nguyn wanting to get rid of his saddlebags. How can you put a price on beauty? Another great Citi Identity Theft Solutions commerical | 3.5 stars |
| Citibank Identity Theft Commercial with Darrel | Darrel – A Citi Identity Theft Solutions commercial with Darrel and the girl singing “Unbreak my heart” by Toni Braxton! | |
| Citibank Underpants ON Identity Theft Commercial | Underpants ON – Black guy with the voice of a “Fran” type voice from Queens. One of the favorite CitiBank Identity Theft Commericals on YouTube! | 4.5 stars |
| Citibank Stirrup Pants Identity Theft Commercial | Stirrup Pants – Another really funny Clickbank Identity Theft Commercial! The commercial shows a man mowing lawn with white trash female voice! | 4.5 stars |
| Citibank Mud Flaps Identity Theft Commercial | Mud Flaps – One of the 3 Original Citi Identity Theft Solutions commercials! Old lady cleaning pool with a scary trucker voice! Funny! | 4.5 stars |
| Multimedia Spoof of the CitiBant Identity Theft Commercials | Multimedia – A commercial made bt current multimedia seniors. This video is a spoof of the Citi Card commercials. | 3 stars |
| Citibank ID Theft Victim Commercial | Orlando Contreras, Identity Theft Victim. Citi Identity Theft Solutions commerical showing a young lack man playing video games, but with a young female voice. | 3 stars |
In: id-theft
1 Feb 2011The realization that identity theft was a real problem was brought to my attention when the son of a close friend went to purchase a car. When he applied for the car loan he was told that he had a credit problem and his loan request was denied. This was a complete surprise to him. As far as he knew his credit record was outstanding. He discovered he was a victim of identity theft!
by Emily Rippe
Credit Advisors Foundation offers some amazing identity fraud statistics and offers tips on ways to avoid becoming a victim. Credit Advisors is a national credit counseling organization offering debt management and credit counseling services as well as financial education to improve personal fiscal practices.
(PRWEB) February 19, 2005 — A bit over four percent of the U.S. population was a victim of identity fraud last year. That means 9.3 million of you experienced the costs, both the monetary and emotional, of this crime. And don’t doubt for a minute, identity fraud is a crime.
Three-fourths of the victims are uncertain of the “who” or “how” of the crime. Unfortunately, the longer it takes to detect identity fraud the higher the cost to the victim. Meanwhile, those victims that have determined the ‘who’ involved, have found identity fraud to be a very personal crime. As difficult as it may be to hear, family and friends are high on the list of identity fraud perpetrators. Sadly, when the thief is a family member or a friend, records show they most often open new credit accounts; thus, detection of the crime takes longer and the costs to the victims are higher, averaging $12,646 per incident.
So what about the “how” of identity fraud? Much attention recently has focused on the online aspect, yet a recent study sponsored by the Better Business Bureau warns us not to neglect “the old fashion ways”. Lost or stolen wallets and theft of paper mail were cited for almost 36 percent within known methods of fraudulently obtaining personal information.
The research also suggested that this is one problem that won’t go away if you ignore it. Of those reporting an incident of identity fraud, most demonstrated prevention behaviors below average prior to the theft. In addition, post theft, these same folks responded by increasing their prevention behaviors, suggesting that minor adjustments in how we deal with the security of our personal information can make an impact.
Some recommendations from a BBB study you have heard before, but here they are again, along with some new ideas as well.
-Retrieve paper mail promptly from your mailbox and when sending mail with sensitive information (including name, address, date of birth, social security number, account numbers of any kind, etc.), make use of a secure outgoing mailbox. Shred documents containing sensitive information before discarding.
-Avoid carrying unnecessary information in your wallet or purse, such as account PIN-numbers, passwords, Social Security number or card.
-Store sensitive information… Read the rest
The realization that identity theft was a real problem was brought to my attention when the son of a close friend went to purchase a car. When he applied for the car loan he was told that he had a credit problem and his loan request was denied. This was a complete surprise to him. As far as he knew his credit record was outstanding. He discovered he was a victim of identity theft!
Identity theft, also knows as ID Theft, is the act of someone using your personal information without your permission in order to facilitate their committing fraud or other crimes. The information stolen can be your credit card account number, bank account number, social security number or other personal information that allows a person to appear to businesses, service provider and creditors as if they were you.
If you think, for any reason, that you have been a victim of identity theft or that you may become a victim because some personal information has been taken or given out by you, you will need to contact the three major consumer credit reporting companies and issue a Fraud Alert. This tells creditors that you must be contacted and your identity verified before extending credit or making any changes to your existing accounts.
Be sure to close any accounts at banks, credit card companies, as well as local creditors so that none of your existing accounts can be misused. Open new accounts with new account numbers. If there are already fraudulent charges made or money transferred, ask how to dispute the unauthorized transactions.
You may also need to file an ID Theft police report with your local law enforcement agency. If you know the identity of the thief who took your information, you will need to let them know. If you do not know this, make a report anyway because it will be needed to prove that you have reported the crime and obtain additional help in resolving any credit or banking issues.
Report your identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). They maintain a database of people who have been victims of ID theft and the investigations to resolve the crime. This helps the FTC research ways that identity theft occurs because identity thieves are always creating new, unique methods to go your personal information.
Because it is far less difficult to prevent identity theft in most cases than it is to recover from the potential impacts from crime, it is very important to stop the identity thief before they steal your information wherever possible. Don’t leave personal papers lying around or thrown into the trash because any information can be used by these criminals. Don’t give personal information out over the telephone to anyone that calls you. If you need to provide personal information to someone or some company, be sure to initiate the telephone call… Read the rest
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