Children Are Victims of Identity Theft Too

In today's world, one way for an identity to be stolen is through that person's social security number. With our advanced society that is so fast paced, it has become a trend for new parents to apply for a social security number for their child when they are born, thinking that they are helping their child's future. Yet it is through those same actions that they are doing creating the exact opposite result. It isn't necessary for a newborn child to receive a social security number. A social security number is necessary for those seeking employment, needing social assistance or other types of government funding - none of which are necessary for children to receive. When a young child has received a social security number, they have unfortunately become an easy target for identity stealing thieves who love these social security numbers as they usually go unmonitored for many, many years..

A report was released in 2006 stating that in America an average of 5 percent of all identity theft victims were children under the age of 18 years. That means that over 50,000 children a year become victims of identity theft. Thieves are finding it easier than ever to commit fraud using a child's identity since children normally don't have a credit history nor will they need to use their credit until they enter into post secondary education at the earliest.

When a child's identity is stolen, the thieves can use this information for a greater reduction on their taxes, to receive expensive hospital procedures and apply for credit cards with no intention of paying these bills. When a child's social security number is received, it must be kept in a safe place; otherwise the child's identity could be at risk.

There are ways to protect your child and their future credit history. If you have secured a social security number for your child, be careful about which institutions you give your child's social security number to. There are various organizations that will need to retain your children's personal information for their files. Doctor offices, schools and daycare centers all routinely ask for copies of a child's birth certificate. As a parent is it up to you to determine if it is really necessary for these organizations to have this information. While some organizations, like the doctor's office, may actually need to be provided with this information, as a parent it is your right to ask how they dispose of and store all patient information.

Finding lost or discarded information is fairly easy. Dumpster diving is one way that identity thieves retrieve their information. It is important that you ensure that all forms where you write your child's social security number on are properly discarded - as in shredding - and not just thrown into a garbage bin crumpled up. You can do this by asking how that company discards personal information. It is estimated that roughly one quarter of all child identity thefts occur when a dishonest employee snoops in files they aren't authorized to view at their place of work. The fewer places your child's information is recorded the safer your child is.

Do not give out your child's personal information to family or close friends unless it is absolutely necessary. It has happened where in many child identity theft cases a child's credit has been ruined by a close friend or relative who were able to access the social security number or other information of a child. Only parents or legal guardians need to know a child's social security number once it has been received.

One very important step to take towards safeguarding a child's identity is to teach your child about the dangers of giving out personal information. It is especially important to teach your child about the dangers of the internet and how to protect yourself from hidden dangers. Teach your child not to use their personal information on-line, specifically on social networking sites where they ask for information such as birth date, address, and phone numbers. Make sure that you regularly check your child's profile on these sites in order to monitor what type of information your child is making public. There are many child friendly sites available to children where they can meet new friends and not have the opportunity to give out this information.

Teach your child how to protect their personal information on a daily basis. As your child gets older it is important to teach them how important it is to always be aware of their 'stuff'. Wallets, purses and even cell phones can provide identity thieves with ready access to all types of personal information. Make sure your child is ready for this responsibility before they are allowed to carry these items out in public.

Check your children's credit reports annually when you check your own.

Each year all the major credit agencies will allow people to obtain one free credit report. When you check your credit, you should also attempt obtain a free credit report for each of your children if they have social security numbers. If everything is normal, your child's report should be blank. It is also important to be aware that if your child begins to receive credit card offers in the mail it is a signal that their identity could have been compromised. If that happens, check their credit report immediately.

When it comes to identity theft, it is important to be aware that it is not only your identity that can be compromised but also your child's. With smaller children it is your responsibility to protect their personal information from being used illegally. As your child gets older, it is essential that you begin to teach your child how to protect themselves from identity thieves. It is our job as parents to teach our children the necessary skills for them to become successful adults, and learning how to protect their identity is one of these important skills. It's never too early to begin protecting your children's identity, in fact, you should begin today or better yet, right now.

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Proposed Law Offers Protection of Social Security Numbers and Medicaid

In this day and age, when you think of identity theft you automatically think about computers and losing your personal information over the web digitally, but there are many other ways you could have your identity stolen. Aside from computers, the easiest way to have your identity stolen is through the use of physical media like your drivers license, Social Security card, or your Medicare card, and this is why one Senator is fighting to have personal identification numbers removed from important documents.

Change is needed

Do you carry your Social Security card around with you? What happens if and you lose, or have your wallet or purse stolen? A identity thief would easily be able to steal your identity if you had your social security card in it. Most people now leave their personal identification cards at home, but what about the millions of people who are currently on Medicare?

The many millions who currently participate in the Medicare program have to carry around their Medicare card with them. The Medicare card has both the patients SSN and date of birth printed on the card, and that is a major cause for concern. Luckily one Senator has seen the light, and is now working towards changing this.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, (Democrat from New York) is seeking to stop the use of Social Security numbers on Medicare cards. Senator Gillibrand is shocked that the Medicare cards still have patients Social Security numbers, and dates of birth on them. Gillibrand said that use of personal identification numbers on the Medicare cards puts millions of people at a major risk when it comes to having their identity stolen/ Gillibrand is now hoping that the new bill will put an end to the use of Social Security numbers on the cards.

A new plan for protection

Many believe that Social Security numbers are over used, and that they are being used beyond their intended purpose. There are 33 states right now that prohibit the the use of personal identification numbers on insurance cards, simply because are not needed for patients to receive treatment.

The new legislation which is called the Social Security Number Protection Act, would make it so that Social Security numbers could not be used on a federal level. This means that new Medicare cards would not have these numbers on them, which would also mean that the millions of citizens on the Medicare program could carry their cards without having to worry about getting their number or their identity stolen.

Social Security numbers are invaluable to both you, and to identity thieves because they act as personal identification. When your SSN is used with your date of birth, identity thieves could easily open credit cards, or get other lines of credit with your personal information. If this were to happen your good name will quickly turn sour. This is why Senator Gillibrand is fighting for the new protection act.

How to protect yourself

If you are currently on Medicare, and you are worried about carrying the Medicare card around with you, there is something you can do to protect your information.

If you have access to a scanner, or photocopier, simply make a copy of both sides of your Medicare card. Once you have copied the card, cut the copies out of the paper. Carefully cut the last four digits of your personal identification number out of the card. Then simply glue the front of the card to the copy of the back.

Now you have a copy of your Medicare card that does not have your entire Social Security number on it. You can carry this card around with you knowing that if you lose, or have your purse, or wallet stolen, nobody will have access to your full Social Security number. You will still be able to receive treatment when presenting this card at hospitals and current doctors.

Keep your real Medicare card (or any important document) in a safe place, like a fire proof safe in your home. The only time you will have to take the Medicare card out with you is when you visit a new doctor for the first time. Follow these simple steps and be one step ahead of the identity thieves.

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Ways People Don't Know They Can Become Victims Of Identity Theft - Falling Victim to Identity Theft

It's very difficult today not to become a victim of Identity Theft. The chances of someone actually having their identity stolen is much larger than most people think. Everyday these crooks come up with new schemes to steal a person's identity, that it makes it nearly impossible to keep up with them. There are thousands of ways that an identity criminal can access your information. However, majority of our nation's population believes that a criminal has to physically steal your belongings in order to get your personal data. On the contrary, they have figured out several ways to take your personal information without having to lay a hand on any of your tangible items.

3 Ways To Have Your Information Stolen That Most Don't Know About

1. R.F.I.D- Also known as Radio Frequency Identification Technology. This is a new and up coming scheme that is starting to find it's way through the United States. The funny part of it all, is that you have probably used an RFID once or twice before without realizing it. This type of technology is found in most of our credit, debit, or bank cards. You simply wave the card in front of the device and it will pick up your information so that you would not have to input any pin numbers of any sort. Some banks, department stores, and drive through food places have these types of devices for their customers. Here's the kicker, crooks are able to purchase a wireless R.F.I.D. device for less than a $100 and carry it in the palm of their hand. All the identity thief has to do is simply pass by you like anyone else, and the R.F.I.D. will pick up all your card information without you ever noticing. This also goes for passports as well. It happens in less than 2 seconds.

2. Wireless Networks- Many places now offer the convenience of free Wi-Fi. The problem with connecting to a Wi-Fi network, is that there have been hundreds of cases where people believed they were connecting to a friendly network, but in fact were connecting to a fraudulent one. Thieves can set up a wireless network at the exact same spot you are at and use the exact same name as the place offering free Wi-Fi. Once connected to the fake Wi-Fi Network, the crooks can actually hack into your system and begin downloading your personal info that you may have on you computer. Also, they can see everything you are seeing. So if you are using your email or checking your online bank account, the crooks can also see your personal information. No matter if you have any type of security protection. Once you are sharing a wireless network that's not yours, your information is available to whom ever it does belong to.

3. Social Security Number Prediction- This by far is the most devious way identity crooks can obtain your Social Security number. You don't have to be an identity theft expert to know that that your Social Security is the number one tool for an identity thief to begin destroying all your credit. You S.S number actually stands for a code. These criminals have figured out what each number stands for, making it easy to predict a S.S number that has not yet been issued. or can randomly figure out one that has been issued. You will never know if you or your child's Social Security number is being used until your next credit report or when you try to open a credit account and you have less than bad credit.

In Conclusion...

Despite the ever growing rate of Identity Theft, there are many ways to prevent it from happening to you and your family. The most difficult part however, is knowing what you need to do to start protecting them. Practicing awareness is always the best solution. The more you become aware of Identity Theft and how it can affect you or your loved ones, the more cautious you will be about how you handle your personal information.

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How Identity Theft Protection Is Like A Goalie For Penalty Kicks

Identity theft and Penalty kicks are a lot a like.

If you watched the penalty kicks portion of the Women's World Cup Final, even though there was a chance that the goalkeepers could keep balls from going into the net, you knew it was inevitable that goals would be scored. The key to stopping them is knowing/guessing where the ball was going. Sometimes even if you know, it's tough to stop. There are spaces in the goal that a goalkeeper just can't get to.

It is the same with identity theft. We can stop identity thieves if we know where they are going to hit us. We can pay cash instead of using credit cards. If we do use credit cards, we can put freezes on them or just monitor them. The same goes for bank accounts and the bills we pay. We can shred everything ( though, watching "Burn Notice" on USA Network last week showed me that if someone wants to, they can get around that).

But if the assistant at the doctor's office is having trouble paying bills and runs with the wrong crowd, it would be easy for him/her to take your and everyone else's information and sell it to those who would use it for illicit and illegal purposes. Or the clerk at the car dealership to use your financial and personal data for him self to qualify for that house he wants. Or maybe you just lose your wallet and someone takes your driver's license info and sells it to someone who will eventually commit a crime in your name. That means the police will come to arrest you! Lifelock isn't monitoring your driver's license.

Personal data is stolen every day without our knowledge. But, unlike a lost wallet which you can report right away, most times the companies it is stolen from won't report it until a later date. They have to get their story straight first (smh).

So what can you do? In soccer, when a goal is scored, the only thing you can do is work hard to score another to equalize or go ahead before time is up. With identity theft, you have work hard to restore your identity with paperwork and phone calls. The federal government can help you. Go to http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/. This can take anywhere from 25 to 600 hours. That's like taking three weeks off from work for a lot of people. There also are companies that will take care of it for you.

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On Guard Against Identity Theft: Basic Facts

Identity theft is generally considered to be the fastest-growing crime in the United States. The term itself refers to obtaining and using the personal identifying information of another person in order to fraudulently obtain goods and services. Personal identifying information includes things such as your name, date of birth, and Social Security number.

Roughly 700,000 people a year become victims of this crime. However, it is continually on the rise, with thieves employing a wide gamut of tactics from sophisticated online "phishing" scams to low-tech strategies like dumpster-diving. Thus, It is becoming more common - especially since the advent of the information age, when so much vital info about the world - and each other - is practically at our fingertips. That being the case, it goes without saying that practically anyone can become a victim.

The most common form of identity theft is credit card fraud; it is estimated to cost consumers hundreds of millions - some say billions - of dollars per year. Next is utilities fraud, followed by bank fraud. Credit card fraud can be particularly insidious, as you may not discover for quite some time that someone has, for instance, opened a new line of credit in your name and charged thousands of dollars to the account before leaving you stuck with the bill.

There are ways to protect yourself from identity theft. Credit monitoring, for instance, is absolutely critical to identity theft defense. Fortunately, you can obtain a free credit report from each of the three major credit-reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) annually. Thus, you can get a free copy of your credit report - one from a different credit-reporting agency - every four months. Likewise, regularly checking and balancing your bank account statements will also help you stay abreast of any irregularities that could be indicative of identity theft.

If you are already the victim of identity theft, it can be a long and arduous road getting back to some semblance of normalcy. On average, it is believed that it takes victims of identity theft six months to a year (and sometimes longer) to get matters rectified to some reasonable extent. This includes trying to recover money taken from bank accounts, as well as avoiding liability for goods and services that were never purchased or received (at least by the victim). Unfortunately, there is no sure-fire method to avoid becoming a victim. All you can do is take what precautions you can in order to mount a adequate identity theft defense. Just remember: it's easier to avoid becoming a victim than to recover from being one. In other words, this is truly a case where an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

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Why Do Thieves Commit Identity Theft

The thieves of the past have evolved over the years. This may be their way of keeping up with the changing world. They may also be evolving to be able to maximize the advantages that the world offers them.

In the past, thieves usually stole valuables such as money and jewellery. Nowadays, thieves steal for a lot of different reasons as the definition of valuable has changed considerably. The digital age which is marked by abundant influx of information has made data pertaining to people extremely valuable. You might be tempted to say that your name and birthday is unimportant, but a professional thief may have hundreds of uses of information as insignificant as someone's name and date of birth.

Why do thieves commit identity theft? There is a multitude of reasons, but some of the most important ones are listed below:

1. To cover up for another crime.

Identity thieves steal the identity of another individual in order to cover up for a crime that they have committed. There have been accounts of people being pinned down in a certain crime because of an identity thief's usage of their information. It happens mostly in cases of online crime, but there are cases where victims have been accused of a real-world crimes too.

2. To make unauthorized purchases.

Credit cards and credit card information are most usually stolen in order to make purchases. In the case of a stolen card, it will take time for the real owner to be informed that his or her card is being used for purchase, especially if the retail store is very lenient. Identity thieves can purchase all that they want until they reach the card's credit limit. After purchase, they usually simply toss your card away.

3. To extort money from your loved ones.

E-mail hacking is one of the earliest styles of identity theft. The thief will hack into your account, open your e-mail and then send a call for help type e-mail message to people your contact list. This ranges from them asking for monetary help because you are in a hospital, stranded in a foreign country without money or have been kidnapped. A lot of people who actually fall for this.

The reasons mentioned above are some of the most common and important reasons why a thief might be interested in stealing your identity. Knowing why thieves commit identity theft, and how they work helps you prepare and protect your identity.

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Methods and Dangers of Identity Theft

Identity theft is an increasing concern for many, and something that has become even more prevalent over the last few years due to the internet. There are many ways that someone who has stolen your identity can use it against you. This article contains some examples of how people can be caused problems by others stealing their identity.

The most common cases of identity theft are where credit cards or credit card details are stolen. This has become more commonplace due to the internet. With so many people now making purchases online it gives an extra opportunity to criminals wishing to obtain the details of innocent people's credit cards. This has the obvious problem of someone being able to use somebody else's credit card to buy things and withdraw cash, while the credit card owner can get left with the bill. The problem with your details being stolen rather than the physical credit card being stolen is that you are likely to notice soon after your card has gone. If the details are stolen, for example during an online transaction, then you may not realise for a while, while someone else is spending your money.

Some have taken out mortgages and other loans using a stolen identity. Someone who would not otherwise be able to get a loan may use the details of someone in a stronger financial position. This can cause the person who is being imitated being charged for repayments and interest on a loan they haven't taken out. One the other hand, the lender can lose out having already paid out the amount of the loan, although this can often be reclaimed.

It is not just individuals who can be victims of stolen credit cards and credit card details, but businesses as well. If a business accepts a stolen credit card from someone buying goods or services from them then it may mean lost income, as the money might be reclaimed by the credit card company.

Identity theft is not just about money though, people can use others' identity in other ways. One example is to use someone else's passport. This can enable wanted criminals to travel to another country, or illegal immigrant to enter a country by what appears to be legal means.

People have had their driving licence used by somebody else. This has led to people driving illegally. It can also mean someone being fined for speeding when, in fact, they haven't committed the offence.

Another instance of identity crime has been where people have managed to tell the postal services that someone has moved, re-directing mail to their own address. This means receiving their mail, which can have disastrous consequences. This can mean receiving mail that enables them to use their identity for wrongful means.

The above is not by any means an exhaustive list of potential identity theft crimes. There are many other ways that people's identities can be used for wrongful means. The danger of identity theft means that everyone has to be careful to make sure they limit the chances of their identity being stolen.

Andrew Marshall (c)

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Preventing Identity Theft Before It Happens

It's a lot easier to prevent identity theft than it is to clean up the mess once you've been made a victim which may then require credit repair. Developing a few simple habits will go a long way toward protecting yourself and making it difficult for criminals to get their hands on your personal information.

You need to proactively protect yourself against identity theft, the fastest growing crime in the United States. TrustedID is dedicated to delivering the most comprehensive protection and the best value and offers a 14 day free trial. TrustedID's IDEssentials delivers both an award winning Identity Theft Protection plus Three-Bureau Credit Reports, Scores and Daily Monitoring. TrustedID delivers this service to the entire family with the only Family Protection Plan on the market.

Treat your Social Security number like gold, and only give it out when it is absolutely necessary.

While your adherence to certain guidelines will help in protecting you against identity theft, it's important to realize that some things will continue to be out of your hands. The agencies, banks and other places of business that you deal with have your information on file and could be vulnerable to theft themselves, whether at the hands of employees from within or hackers from the outside. While you may only be able to ask about the security practices of these places of business, there are a few things you can do to safeguard your private information:

Keep your Social Security card out of your wallet and in a safe place, such as a safety deposit box or home safe. Treat your Social Security number like gold, and only give it out when it is absolutely necessary.

Guard your wallet and/or purse by keeping it close and safe. Criminals will sometimes overpower their victims in order to get to their wallets or purses, but most choose to do it discreetly so as not to draw attention to themselves. Rather than leaving your purse on the seat next to you, tuck it up against your body. Keeping credit cards and the like in a second zippered compartment within your purse can guard against thieves who would steal its contents by cutting a hole it its bottom or quickly rifling through it. Men can protect themselves by keeping their wallets in their front pockets, where pickpockets are much less likely to get to them.

Photocopy your credit cards, driver's license, bank account numbers and any other important information that you usually carry with you. This way, if something were to happen, you would be able to tell exactly what items were stolen from you and would have the phone and account numbers necessary to file an accurate, detailed police report and stop your accounts immediately.

Ordering new checks? Instead of having your home phone number printed on them, use your work number or no number at all. If you can, use a post office box number instead of your home address. You should never put you Social Security number on your checks. It's also a good idea to use only your initials and last name instead of having your first name printed on your checks. This way, if someone were to obtain your checkbook, they wouldn't know your gender or how you normally sign your checks.

Make it a habit to acquire your credit reports annually and verify by checking them carefully that nothing suspicious has been reported.

Avoid giving your full credit card number out whenever you can. When mailing in a check to your credit card company, write only the last four digits of your account number on your check.

If anyone will be accessing your home while you're not there (a babysitter, for example), be sure to lock up all of your personal data to ensure that it stays safe despite your absence.

Buy and use one of the new "cross-cut" shredders often. Anything you want to toss that has any identifying information on it (that includes envelopes) should be shredded. "Cross-cut" shredders shred into much smaller pieces than ordinary shredders do, making it virtually impossible for a criminal to glue or tape your shredded papers back together.

Keep up-to-date firewalls, antivirus protection and anti-spyware programs on your computer. There are good free versions of these available, so not having enough money is no excuse not to have them.

Don't be sucked in by "phishing" scams. These scams work by sending you an official looking email that asks you to click on a link (which takes you to an official looking site) and submit your personal information (usually for verification purposes). If you get one of these emails, delete it. Legitimate companies will never solicit personal information via email. If you think the email may be legitimate, call the company-using a phone number from one of your statements, not one supplied by the email-and ask.

Prevent anyone from seeing your debit card number as you punch it in at the cash register. The same goes for calling card numbers at public telephones.

If possible, use a post office box instead of your home mailbox. If you don't have or don't want a post office box, mail your bills from the post office or a drop box instead of from your home. If you're not home to collect your mail, ask a friend or neighbor to pick it up for you.

This is a long list, but most of these guidelines can be easily followed without a great deal of effort. Your privacy is priceless, and if your personal information is stolen, it can create all kinds of trouble for you immediately and, through the damage done to your credit score requiring credit repair, far into the future. Don't make yourself an easy target for potential thieves.

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Personal Identity Protection

Identity Fraud is running rampant in the world today, are you safe? According to financial research, Identity fraud is the fastest growing crime in America, and is the #1 concern among consumers. Personal identify theft occurs when a criminal steals another person's private information and opens fraudulent credit accounts, stealing their identity and financial information. According to two studies done in July 2003 (Gartner Research and Harris Interactive), approximately seven million people became victims of identity theft in the prior 12 months, that is over nineteen thousand lives per day!

Identity theft happens in an unlimited number of ways, some are highly complex, some are as simple as trash diving. It's hard to believe, but some people make a good living by dumpster diving. They dig through public dumpsters and private trashcans looking for information, and it's totally legal. According to the U.S. Supreme Court (California v. Greenwood, decided May 16, 1988), all rights of privacy and ownership are forfeited by your disposal in the trash. The Court also said: "It is common knowledge that garbage is readily accessible to animals, children, scavengers, snoops, and other members of the public." Another form of attack is the more familiar online computer fraud or computer hacking method. Simply put, the steal all your personal information from your own computer by hacking into your home or office computer.

Protecting your online interest is best left to high quality security software from Norton, Symantec or many other firms. The best defense for protecting your personal identity theft is quite simple, shredding documents with your personal information before disposing of them. Don't give away your information to the public, SHRED IT! A short list of the items you should shred is listed below:

Financial Statements Credit Statements and Receipts Personal Checks Pay stubs and employer or other income documentation Anything showing names, addresses, phone numbers, and social security numbers, etc.

There are many quality shredders to chose from, most of these you can purchase online at discount office supplies web-sites. Many of the better and less expensive brands will not cost you a great deal of money and will do a great job for you. Shredders by SWINGLINE, FELLOWES and HSM are all fantastic and offer quality products. Choose a shredder with cross cut capabilities to really destroy the document and secure your information.

Securing your identity from theft is an ongoing challenge, these are just a few simple and yet effective ways to protect your precious identity. By shredding and securing your documents and controlling your on-line purchases, you should be fine keeping your personal identity safe for a lifetime.

The Urgency of ID Theft Prevention   

Proven Steps To Prevent Identity Theft - What Steps Can You Take To Prevent Identity Theft?

The truth is no matter what precautions you take or no matter how careful you are, there is no 100% way of preventing Identity Theft. The Federal Trade Commission, the U.S Department of Justice, and the U.S Attorney General's Office have all stated that there is no full proof method to avoid this crime. There is an upside however. By making yourself aware of the threat we are faced with and opening your mind to the way these identity criminals think, you can start minimizing the risk of becoming a target. There are proven steps and measures you could use that will definitely take you out of the spot a light and one step ahead of these crooks.

5 Steps That Will Minimize The Risk Of Becoming A Victim Of Identity Theft

Step 1: The first important thing consumers can do to protect their identity is to monitor their credit reports. By law, the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act requires each of the 3 major nationwide consumer reporting companies to provide you with a free copy of your credit report once a year. You can submit a request for a copy of your free credit report at freecreditreport.com or you can call 1-877-322-8228. They ask not to call the credit reporting companies directly because they only provide free reports through their web address and phone number. This will give you the opportunity to see if there are any unauthorized accounts opened in your name.

Step 2: Don't give out personal information over the phone, on the internet, or through the mail unless you first initiated the contact or are sure you know who you're dealing with. Identity thieves have posed as representatives of national banks, members of a charity, and even government agencies to get people to give out their account numbers, Social Security number, and other personal information. Before you share any personal information, always be sure your dealing with a legit organization. You can check an organization's website by typing its URL in the address bar. Do this instead of cutting and pasting it. Or you can call customer service using the number listed on your statement or in the telephone book just to ensure it is in fact them calling.

Step 3: Protecting your mail is very important. Make sure that every single piece of mail with any kind of personal information, even if it's just your name on it, is cross-shredded before you throw it away. Simply tearing it up into pieces is not going to be good enough. This only provides the thief with a puzzle that they can easily piece together. Drop off your outgoing mail in a post office collection box or at your local post office, instead of leaving it in an unsecured mailbox, especially curbside mailboxes. Always quickly remove any mail from your mailbox. If you're going to be away from home and can't pick up your mail, contact your local Post Office and ask for a temporary hold, or a vacation hold. They will hold your mail there until you pick it up or when you are finally home to receive it.

Step 4: Do not carry your Social Security card, credit/debit cards, or passports if you don't plan to utilize them. Carry only credit and debit cards that you need for the day. Same goes for any other personal identification. If you must have it on you, (i.e. Driver's License/I.D) ensure that it is secure. If you are at work, be sure to keep your wallet/purse in a safe place. Places of employment are known for having wallets or purses stolen. Do the same with any copies of administrative forms that might have your personal information on it.

Step 5: As a U.S citizen you have the right to ask about personal information security protocol or procedures at your place of work, other businesses, institutions that collect personal data, doctor's offices, schools, you name it. Find out about their disposal procedures for personal records and ask if your information will be shared with anyone else other than them. If your information is going to be shared, you should definitely ask what safety precautions they will take to keep your information confidential. If you have a problem with the place of business not being able to disclose that information or simply does not have an answer. It would be best to contact the F.T.C immediately to make them aware of the situation at that particular institute.

In Conclusion...

There are between 10-15 million people affected by Identity Theft Each Year. 10% of those victims are children. That means every 3 seconds a new person has their identity stolen. There are other ways to ensure the safety of you and your family's identity. You just have to become aware of the threats around you and what you can do to avoid them. One of the most important steps a person can take in the fight against Identity Theft is to practice awareness for you and family.

The Urgency of ID Theft Prevention   

Prevent Identity Theft From Ruining Your Life

Identity theft has become a widespread occurrence. It has victimized many people as well, severely affecting them for life. Identity thieves are all over and they continue looking for ways to victimize more people in order to gain from them through extremely illegal means. With a single mistake, an innocent individual can fall into the hands of the wicked criminals. While the situation is a very alarming one, anyone can prevent identity theft and avoid becoming a casualty. An excellent means to do this is to have identity theft protection. Such services are now readily available to help people from becoming identity theft victims.

A lot of people are often lax in their ways. They think that they are not prone to be singled out by identity thieves. Due to this, they tend to become careless with their habits, even doing things that jeopardize their sensitive information. It is this negligence that causes unfortunate incidents. This is the kind of rashness that perpetrators of identity theft are constantly watching for. Most often, these thieves follow-up after the heedlessness of those people with sloppy habits. One concrete example is improperly discarding documents containing sensitive information. For some people, this does not present any problem. For the identity thieves, this is an opportunity.

Fortunately, that particular habit can be changed for the good. The most obvious solution would be to acquire a shredding machine. However, when people perform financial transactions without verifying if the site is secure, they are also putting themselves at a high risk. Sending out private data like social security numbers and credit card information recklessly is tantamount to personally giving away valuable information to strangers. When this happens, it is certain that this unsuspecting giver of information will be on the course to suffering the consequences of irresponsible actions. But if he has adequate identity theft protection, it is most likely that he can be forewarned of any suspicious activity involving his sensitive data. With this, he will be able to prevent identity theft.

Having the right kind of security can help people steer clear of identity thieves. Likewise, it is a step in the direction of a safe and secure lifestyle, with no fear of having unwanted attention on private information. Through the system adapted by many identity theft protection companies, consumers have better ways to protect themselves and their lives from the ruin that has been inflicted on many people who had little or no security for their identities at all. In other words, anyone can have someone that can be trusted to help monitor illegal activities involving their accounts. Doing so can help provide further protection and, thus, less sleepless nights.

Anyone who wants to prevent identity theft instinctively knows the things that need to be done. Signing up for effective identity theft protection services is one method of stepping up security. Another is to improve personal habits. Side by side, these two are powerful lines of attack to keep away from the unwelcome attention of identity thieves. Complement these by acting promptly to protect confidential data.

The Urgency of ID Theft Prevention   

Stolen Identity: Now What?

Believe it or not there are multiple ways in which your identity can be stolen. It happens to Americans every day. There are two things that you can do to protect yourself. Having your identity stolen can be very stressful, costly, and harmful to your credit score ratings. First, you should know the ways to protect you from this even happening to you. Second, if identity theft does occur, have a concrete game plan in place. Here are a few steps to help you in case your identity ever gets stolen.

1. If your cards have been stolen, immediately cancel them. Make sure that any corresponding accounts that are linked to them are also shut down. If you cannot remember the exact point that your items might have gotten stolen, go over the recent charges with the agent that you are working with. They should be able to reverse any charges that were not made by you.

2. Contact one of the three credit score companies. You might want to contact all three for safe measure however, they should share the information with each other without you having to call. They will be able to put a fraud alert on your account. This will make the process of applying for lines of credit or opening accounts in your name impossible. It will require more identification from you in the event that you are ready to apply for new things. Be patient and remember that the alert is there to protect you, not to be annoying.

3. Watch for any new accounts being opened in your name. If one happens to get opened call the company and let them know that it is a fraudulent account. By signing up to receive a free credit score or a ratings report they might also offer you monitoring. This is very safe for you to do. In the event that you may not know your identity has been stolen, it will alert you of any changes made to your credit score rating.

4. Change any and all passwords that you may use online. This is extremely important if you didn't know that your identity was stolen. They were able to hack into your account before so change everything and try to mix up the passwords.

These are just a few of the things that you can do as a consumer to protect yourself. While identity theft can be scary, if you have a plan in place you will be better prepared.

The Urgency of ID Theft Prevention   

You Are Under Arrest, Until You Can Figure Things Out

I have come to the realization that I don't know very much about the law and what my particular rights are as a citizen. I thought I did before September 23rd, 2011; after all I had taken all the classes in high school and college to prove that I did know. I even stayed awake for those classes and passed all the necessary tests.

So why was I sitting in a jail cell feeling confused, alone and forgotten?

On September 23rd, 2011, I was pulled over because I was at a bus stop in my vehicle. I knew better than to do that, the particular area where I live is notorious for giving people tickets in excess of $250 for being anywhere near a bus stop zone with your vehicle. So I pulled off almost as soon as I had pulled up to it and told my partner, I would drive around the block and come back to pick her up.

I hadn't even gotten my truck back into the lane when I saw the red, white and blue lights flashing in my rear view mirror indicating I needed to pull over. My son was in the backseat and I knew I had nothing to worry about save for an expensive ticket lesson to remind me to stay away from bus stops.

The Sheriff exited his car and came up on my driver's side to speak with me through my window. I immediately started in explaining that my vehicle wasn't actually turned off, that I had merely pulled up alongside the bus stop to drop someone off and was going to circle the block to pick them back up. He smiled, probably having heard all types of excuses when people are trying to get out of a ticket. In this case I had told the truth, that is what happened. No problem I was told, he still wanted to see my license and registration. I acquiesced, giving him my license and explaining that since it was a new vehicle I hadn't received the official registration as yet, but I had the temp one in the window that car dealers place until you get the actual registration in the mail.

He took all of my information in hand back to his squad car. By now a second car had pulled up, something about protocol and backing up the first squad car which has made the original stop. I was peering in my side mirror to see what was going on, I knew I had nothing to worry about, I was clean, there was nothing on my license. I watched him as he exited his car, give a look to the other officer who was now standing adjacent to my vehicle, a look which indicated everything was indeed not all right.

When he returned to my driver's side door, he asked if I could step outside. Sure I had responded, not a problem, no drugs or illegal stuff in my car. I think I was even smiling trying to prove to my son there was nothing to fear from our law enforcement, especially if you are an upstanding citizen. I stepped out and away from my vehicle to give him total access to search if he needed, but what he then instructed me to do was to place my hands behind my back.

I wasn't under arrest he explained, but I did have a warrant in another city which he had to investigate further. By now I was in shock and racking my brain as to what I could have done. I pulled over when I was told, I provided all the requested information and I was compliant throughout the stop. Oh but wait, he said a warrant, nothing to do with the stop itself. My confusion instantaneously turned into fear. There was also a look of fear on my partners face who by now had walked down the block when she hadn't seen me circle back around. I couldn't see my sons face, it was obscured by the tinted glass at the rear passenger seat.

I was placed in handcuffs and into the back of the Sheriff's squad car to wait, wonder and worry. He returned a short while later, indeed it was a valid warrant for Grand Theft and he had to take me, in order to get processed. This is a mistake, I have done nothing wrong. You have to check again I kept repeating.

Then it hit me, in 2009 our home was robbed. Our vital information was taken when our bags were stolen along with other items from the home. We had done all the traditional cancellation of credit cards, but there was nothing we could do as far as we knew about the drivers licenses and social security cards that were taken except order new ones. I didn't know anything about the concept of criminal identity theft at that time.

I was taken in, held overnight and allowed to bail out once we posted the $2,000 bond. The law doesn't care anything about your nonexistent past record, the fact that you are a business owner, church goer, volunteer or all around upstanding citizen who is the victim of criminal identity theft. They care about what information comes back on that screen when they run you. I am still dealing with the remnants of the arrest. I have to go to court to clear my name and present my original report and subsequent information from the 2009 robbery. It's a headache to go through, but necessary.

I don't hold any grudge towards law enforcement. They did what they had to do, I know better than to blame someone for doing their job, even though that night I felt as though they were the enemy. However, I am leery and nervous when I see a squad car in the lane next to me as I am driving. Now I get it, what people say about not even wanting to have any needless interaction with law enforcement no matter the reason. That fear won't go away any time soon for me either.

For me, this was a lesson in what my rights are, and I am determined to gain enough knowledge about what my specific rights are, because I have no intention of living in fear of people committing the crime or those who are in place to protect me.

The Urgency of ID Theft Prevention   

Avoid Identity Theft By Employing A Reputable Shredding Service

Identity theft is a growing problem that victimises thousands of people worldwide on a daily basis. Valuable information that is written on documents including credit card information, national insurance numbers and bank account and routing information, can be stolen out of the bin or recycling by savvy and determined thieves. Many people mistakenly assume that merely blacking out important numbers is enough to deter identity thieves. Unfortunately this is not the case.

Sophisticated thieves do not need a complete set of information in order to steal a persons' identity. Sometimes a name and parts of an address or a few old phone numbers are enough to create a new persona, including credit cards issued in the name of the person whose identity was stolen. Documents that otherwise seem innocuous, like a national insurance and tax id numbers can be used to create new documents that help steal identity. The more little pieces of information a thief has, such as past employers and hospital of birth or an old passport or driver's license photo with a name on it, can be enough information to cause millions of dollars of debt and years of grief for the victim. This is why people and businesses often turn to a shredding service to help them deal with the large volume of material they need to shred.

The best thing to do is to shred all documents will all identifying information, no matter how innocent the information may seem. This can add up to thousands of pages of documents a week, which is no easy task for a small shredder.

Additionally, computer disks, including DVDs and CD's can contain private information that cannot be erased. Only a commercial shredder can handle harder material such as this. Commercial shredders are able to shred clothes, large volumes of paper, plastics, and many other materials that smaller domestic and office shredders cannot handle. Even credit cards can slow down domestic and office shredders. A shredding service has large shredders that are capable of handling large volumes of heavy material without slowing down.

A reputable shredding service can help any home or office prevent identity theft and important information from getting into the wrong hands. Hiring an outside service also saves time and money in the long run. In addition to saving money and time spent tracking down and stopping identity thieves, an outside service saves time and money over using a small shredder for large volumes. A shredder can uses large amounts of energy every year. This cost is greatly increased when the machine is taxed by using it at a much higher volume that it was designed for. Much of this cost can be saved by hiring an outside company to provide this service for a home or business.

The Urgency of ID Theft Prevention   

A Review of Krolls Identity Theft Shield Program

A Review of Kroll's

Since the 1990's, identity theft has grown to be a major criminal problem throughout the United States and Canada. It has resulted in thousands of dollars being lost by both business and individuals and ending up in the hands of criminals. Not only has it resulted in immediate financial losses, but it has also resulted in damaging the solid reputations of innocent victims and left them with destroyed credit histories that has prevented career advancements and home purchases. Identity theft has become one of the major problems facing society in the 21st Century.

Realizing that this problem is a growing concern for people in both the US and Canada, Kroll Fraud Solutions has developed their Identity Theft Shield program. This program is marketed by PrePaid Legal Services, Inc. and is designed to help protect your driver's license number, social security and social insurance number as well as your medical records. By looking at your credit bureau reports and other important data, the program offers top-quality protection to your identity.

This program differs from its competition in that it is backed by one of the largest risk management and fraud prevention companies in the world. Kroll Fraud Solutions stands side by side with you to help restore your identity in the event that anyone happens to steal it. They offer up to $1,000,000 in protection to help restore your identity if it is stolen for any reason. By using proactive searches of national databases and setting fraud alerts on your credit report, this program seeks to stop identity theft before it happens to you. Another fact that sets Identity Theft Shield apart from its competition is that it offers protection for the entire family unit. Many other programs simply offer individual protection and then charge a fee for each additional person needing identity theft protection. The Identity Theft Shield program wraps this all together in one low monthly cost. This saves your family money because you will not face having to pay for multiple identity protection policies.

In addition to the differences that are mentioned above, the Identity Theft Shield program from Kroll Fraud Solutions offers numerous advantages not found in other programs. One major advantage is that this program is compliant with all aspects of the Fair Credit Reporting Act and other national regulations regarding credit reporting. It also is backed by a company with more than 30 years of expertise in preventing and investigating criminal fraud. It also is formulated by one of the few companies that is compliant with the Safe Harbor Act. The Shield program also is run by investigators and customer support personnel that understand the importance of recognizing a credit fraud violation as a leading indicator of a larger identity theft problem. Overall, this program is designed to provide better identity protection than any other program on the market.

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The Urgency of ID Theft Prevention