Ways To Prevent Identity Theft

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) November 26, 2010 -- In the high-tech world of today, where everything from banking to communications by electronic shopping happens, identity theft has become a growing concern. Although everyone is at some degree of risk, there are some simple but important steps you can take to protect yourselves and avoid future problems.
What is identity theft?

Identity theft is a general term that includes any unauthorized use of personal information. This may mean the theft and use of a credit card, or the unlawful use of your name, address, date of birth, social security numbers, and passwords to access your personal bank account, rent or buy an apartment or a vehicle, or even to get a job.
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) received 161,819 complaints of identity theft in 2002 - five times the number reported in 2000. And that number continues to grow.The FTC believes that there were about 10 million victims of identity theft in 2004, with losses totaling $ 54 billion.

Some forms of identity theft directly involve money - that is, a thief who accesses your credit card or bank account - but other victims influence in more subtle ways that are harder to detect. For example, an offender may use your name and credit score (or other aspects of your personal history) to get a job, rent an apartment, or even get a mortgage. This type of identity theft can often go unnoticed for years, and is sometimes detected only after considerable damage has been done to the victim's name or credit rating.
Take steps to prevent identity theft
Even if you are careful about disclosing credit card numbers and other personal information, identity can be perpetrated by low-tech tactics such as:
An employee in a shop or a restaurant looking over the shoulder of a customer as they enter the access code for a debit or credit card.
A thief slipped into a neighborhood and stealing a credit card statement, phone bill, bank statement, or other financial documents from mailboxes or trash cans.

A telephone caller claiming to be a representative of your bank or telephone service provider, requests for personal information "to confirm your identity."
Be sure to take precautions to protect personal information - especially when it is on paper! Below are some recommended security measures:
Keep your sensitive personal documents, such as your birth certificate, passport, social security cards, and credit cards in a box or home safe security deposit when not in use.

Avoid sharing personal information online. Even innocuous details, such as the publication of the name, surname and date of birth on social networking sites like Facebook or give your phone number, home or work, can be dangerous in the hands of an identity thief.
Avoid giving personal information to anyone who claims to be calling from your phone provider or banking institution - instead, ask if you can take their number and call them back, after verifying that the call is valid.
Chop or tear the credit card bills and other revenues, before putting them in the garbage bin or recycling.
Do not respond directly to e-mail asking for personal information. If the sender claims to be your bank or another institution, contact the company directly to ask them about the first e-mail.

Check your credit card and credit card accounts regularly for unusual charges, especially small ones (like a dollar or less) that thieves may be testing the waters.
When you travel, hotel key cards cut up at the check out - these cards can contain financial and personal information that can be accessed after you leave.
Check your credit report annually. You can get a free credit report once a year from annualcreditreport.com
Consider using a service of identity theft to help monitor the use of information, especially if you lost your wallet or have been the victim of theft at home.The long-term effectiveness of these programs pay is still to be determined, but may give you added, if not bullet-proof protection

What to do if you are a victim of identity theft
Consumers also pay more attention may find themselves recipients authors cunning. If you find that you have been a victim of identity theft, there are three steps to be taken immediately:
Immediately inform your bank or credit card company if you have had checks stolen or if you see charges you did not do.
Report any theft of money or use your identity to the police. Although local police are not those of the theft study, documenting the crime right away will create a "data trail" that can protect the long term.

Report the problem to government agencies responsible for helping victims of identity theft.These agencies can help trace the culprit and recover the 'stolen identities. In the United States, began by complaining to the Federal Trade using the form on the website of the FTC identity theft.

ways to prevent identity theft