There are a few steps that you can take to reduce the probability of falling victim to identity theft. Probably the easiest thing to do is to just use your common sense. Make sure you protect your important personal information and do not give it out unless you absolutely have to.

You need to check your credit bureau report at least annually to ensure that there has not been any credit opened in your name without your authorization. If you are aware of what should appear on your credit report, then it is simple to see if there has been any unauthorized use of your personal information.

You should be using identity theft shield to reduce your exposure to the possibility of your identity being stolen. There are several companies that specialize in protecting your identity. identity theft prevention companies use a credit report fraud alert so that you are alerted anytime someone attempts to open up credit using your social security number.

These identity theft companies also reduce the amount of junk mail you receive, including credit offers. This limits the chances of mail theft resulting in your identity being stolen.

Also, identity theft companies monitor the black market and online activity for any unauthorized use or selling of your valuable information. Criminals typically will sell your valuable information, such as your social security number and name and address, which is used to steal your identity.

With ID theft hitting one out of every four residences in the United States, you need to make sure you are protected. By using an identity theft prevention service, you are doing what you can to make sure you do not become a victim of identity theft. To find out more about these services, you can read about TrustedID.

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Why is the data different? With the hundreds of millions of credit reports that these companies need to maintain, errors are almost inevitable. Interestingly enough, studies have shown that the MAJORITY of consumers have at least one or more inaccurate or erroneous piece of information in their credit report. The scary part is that, contrary to popular belief, the errors will NOT be corrected automatically. In fact, if you don’t alert the credit bureau of the errors, then the errors will be carried forward with your record, year after year.

Please be aware that while identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes of this century so far, it is not limited to just online activities. Granted, with the advent of the ease of shopping online and being able to purchase something at a great price with just a couple of mouse clicks is attractive for many, there are steps you should take to ensure that you have done everything responsible that you can do to avoid your information from getting into the wrong hands. One of the first places to start is to get yourself a copy of your credit report, and look especially for accounts that you are not aware of, which is the first sign that you may be a victim of identity theft.

Online identity theft is a serious crime that can clean out your life savings and leave you with a damaged credit history that may take years to repair. Unless you’re familiar with the person with whom you’re dealing, or are filling out an official form for a legitimate personal or business purpose, information such as a social security number, bank account numbers, credit card numbers and other types of data that might have a bearing on your individuality should never be divulged. If you’ve ever used a credit card to order take-out food over the phone, you’re leaving yourself wide open to identity theft.

Congress passed the Fair Credit Reporting Act several years ago in an attempt to smooth out some problems in the credit reporting industry. The presence of this alert requires any creditor to verify the identity of the borrower prior to granting credit in his or her name.

When you travel, regardless of how you book your reservations, your personal information will still end up on the company’s computer and stored in their databases. Many companies, including some large major corporations, do not protect your personal data the way they should.

Many people ignore the importance of protecting their personal and financial information against identity theft until they become a victim of it. The amount of goods and services purchased with fraudulently obtained personal identity was more than $50 billion dollars last year.

If you purchase merchandise online frequently, you may want to use a separate credit card that you obtain just for that purpose. Always use ONLY that credit card. For the junk mail that you receive regularly saying you are approved for a new credit card or mortgage loan, don’t just simply throw it in the trash. Instead, invest in a shredder and take the time to shred those letters. Many cases of identity theft occur because the thief has gone “dumpster diving” to find those pre-approval letters, and opens an account in your name.

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Consider the case of Matt Johnson. This is not his real name but the situation described here is very real and Matt remembers it like it was yesterday. Matt owned a small business that was doing quite well, and had always paid his bills on time even while in college. Matt and his wife started talking about a new car so they went car shopping, and eventually fell in love with a particular car where the car dealership was going to make a very good offer to them. Matt filled out the application form, anticipating that there would be no problems whatsoever. But when the salesman came back with a definite cloud over his head, Matt knew something had come up.

The car salesman proceeded to tell Matt that they could not approve him for a loan for his new car. Matt was astounded and asked to see the credit report that the car dealership had quickly pulled. Matt could not believe what he was seeing – page after page of opened accounts with nearly maxed out credit limits, all of them many months past due.

Yes, Matt had become a victim of identity theft, and in the ensuing weeks, Matt started to get calls from various credit card companies asking when he was going to start making payments. It was a real nightmare, and trying to explain that he was a victim of identity theft to the credit card collection agents was met with extreme skepticism. Even today, more than two years later, the problems on Matt’s credit report have not been cleaned up to the 100% level, and Matt has spent an incredible amount of his personal time chasing down the problems and getting them corrected.

This can happen to you too. Do you have an extra 2-4 hours every day for weeks and months on end to rectify this type of problem if it were to happen to you, without having that time you are spending negatively impact your family life or your work? If you are like most of us, the answer is a resounding NO.

There is a solution. Several companies are starting to offer protection against the crime of identity theft. It is like an insurance policy in some respects, because although you hope you never need it, it sure is nice to know that you are protected if the need should arise.

When you are looking at companies that offer such a service, be sure to look beyond just the cost of the service. For a business, the cost is probably a tax write-off, but even if not, compare the cost of the service against the losses you would sustain without it. Then be sure you are clear on exactly what is covered and what is not, and what your limits of liability are. Make sure the identity theft service works with the credit bureaus, who are the first to know when new credit is requested in your name.

Like insurance, you hope you never need it, but consider the degree to which your life and free time would change if you became and victim and did NOT have the protection!

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One of the most common ways people become victims of identity theft is through mail fraud. Every day, people receive junk mail that they carelessly toss in the trash. If someone gets a hold of your junk mail, with some of your personal information, they can easily steal your identity. Therefore, it is important to shred any unwanted mail you may receive. It is worth investing in a cross shredder, so that your information does not fall into the wrong hands. These are readily available at just about any office supply store, or even a national chain such as Best Buy or Circuit City, and they are relatively inexpensive.

You can also become an identity theft victim if your wallet is either lost or stolen. Chances are, you carry credit cards, your driver’s license and other valuable, personal information in your wallet. Therefore, if it falls into the wrong hands, your identity can easily be taken over.

If you have fall victim to identity theft, there are a variety of different steps you will want and need to take. One of the first steps is to contact the three major credit bureaus and place a fraud alert on your credit. This can help in preventing the thief from continuing to use your identity and your credit.

Next, you will want to close any and all accounts that could have been affected by the thief. You will want to speak with a fraud worker for each company, so they have a full understanding of what is going on. When it is time to open new accounts, do not use the same PIN or Personal Identification Number you had used before. Likewise, you will want to avoid using numbers such a portion of your social security number, part of your phone number or birth date. As well, you will want to avoid using consecutive numbers.

You will also want to contact the Federal Trade Commission and file a complaint with them. You can either file the complaint online or by contacting them personally. The information that you provide the Federal Trade Commission will then be used to help track down the person who stole your identity. As well, you will want to file a report with your local police department. By filing a report with the Federal Trade Commission and your local police department, you are then entitled to certain types of protection. The reports will help block any fraudulent information from showing up on your credit report. Likewise, you will not be held responsible for any debt the thief racked up.

One of the most important things you can do is keep accurate records. Keep a notebook with the date and time and name of the person that you talked with at your bank, at your credit card companies, and even at the police department. Keep a copy of the fax or email you sent to report the crime. This is for your own benefit, since there are some credit card companies who may not believe that your identity was stolen, that all these new charges are really yours, and this documentation can help them understand this is real for you.

Anyone can become an identity theft victim. However, there are a variety of different steps you can take to both prevent the theft from occurring, as well as steps you can take to recover from the incident. With the rise in number of identity theft cases, it is very important to remain on the defense and take as many precautions as possible.

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You will probably receive a phone call from a creditor stating “you” just either made a large purchase and they suspect fraud or you open your credit card bill as you do every month and be amazed at some extra charges that are on there. Call your credit card company immediately. Rarely, will you be liable for charges over $50, and many credit card companies wave the first $50 in the case of fraud. Check with your bank, you will usually be given a choice to close your account and reopen a new one or some banks will put a “watch” on your account and you will have to log into your account and manually approve every charge and check before it is cleared. This usually goes on for a period of 30-60 days. The latter isn’t the best choice as it is labor intensive to do and your account isn’t protected from fraud as it would be if you simply closed it out and reopened a new account.

After you have done all the initial damage control. The next thing to do when you realize that you are a victim of identity theft is to notify the credit bureaus. Report the situation to the three major credit reporting companies- Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You can do it online or in writing, and you must tell these companies that your identifying information has been stolen and is being used by another person fraudulently in your name. Ask them to flag your file with a fraud alert, and ask that all creditors call you before extending credit in your name. A consumer statement will be put on your file and it will alleviate your fears of bogus accounts being opened for about 3 months.

Due to provisions of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you can only place an initial fraud alert for 90 days. The credit bureaus will then send you a notice displaying your rights as an identity theft victim. As soon you receive this, write to each of the three credit bureaus to request two things; An extension of the fraud alert to seven years, and a free copy of your credit report. Remember to include an identity theft report when you send your letter in order to authorize the seven year alert. Whenever you communicate with the credit companies, you should refer to the number given to your credit report and always use verified return receipt mail. Also, make sure you save all credit reports and related information for your records.

As soon as you get your three credit reports, carefully examine each one. Report all fraudulent and inaccurate information in writing to the credit bureaus, as well as to the credit issuers, following the instructions that are provided with the credit reports. As soon as you notify the credit bureaus about the fraudulent information, the bureau is required to strike that information from future reports. The bureau will also notify the credit grantor of the fraudulent account(s). If it isn’t included in the report, ask the credit bureaus for the contact information of the credit grantors.

Also, tell the credit bureaus in writing that you want them to remove all inquiries that have been created due to fraudulent access. You should also ask the bureaus to contact anyone who has received your credit report in the last six months so they can be informed about the fraudulent and inaccurate information. Numerous inquiries can lower your credit score, so work diligently on getting those inquiries removed from your personal credit report.

Though these measures should set you back on track and protect your credit from the fraudulent information, they may not completely stop it from happening again. Because of this, be sure to monitor your credit reports, there are many online services that will help you monitor your credit report. We recommend Experian Triple Advantage. Along with getting your credit report online with credit score, you also get 30 days free credit monitoring service. With this service you can start the dispute process online! Often times, once you have started the process you will be able to obtain a second free report from the credit bureaus, and in many states you will be able to access your credit report more frequently. If you notice that the fraudulent information is still happening, notify the proper bureaus instantly. If the problem persists for very long, you may want to consider freezing your accounts for awhile if possible to prevent any more damage.

Identity theft is an unfortunate event when it occurs, but you can fight back and get your life back quickly!

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Now that you know what can be the result of identity theft, you can look back and probably recognize various things you could have done differently to protect yourself more fully. Please understand that identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in our current high-tech society, and precautions you took 5 or 10 years ago need to be modified to be effective today.

Usually, by the time the victim realizes that his identity has been used, the identity thief has long since disappeared from the face of the planet, leaving a wake of damage to the victim’s name and credit report. The laws in this country are only now starting to realize that new laws need to be enacted to protect consumers from this type of theft, as well as making additional provisions and avenues for those who are victims. In Texas, a law was passed to limit a consumer’s credit freeze privileges until they can prove that they have been a victim of identity theft or credit card fraud. That is very similar to saying that you cannot buy a lock until you can prove that your house has been broken into, at which point it is too late!

If you discover that you are a victim of identity theft, the very first thing you need to do is to contact all of your lenders, including credit card companies, department stores, gas stations, your mortgage lender and your bank and let them know what happened. Depending on their policies, they may require you to fill out some paperwork.

One of the best things you can do at this time is to get a notebook and start taking very detailed notes. When you call your credit card company to report this, note the date and time of your call, and write down the name of the person you spoke with. Do this for every account you contact to alert them of what has happened. While you are talking with each one, ask them exactly what is covered if charges are discovered on your account that you yourself did not do. Sometimes all or some charges are covered by insurance, but other times there is no coverage.

Although the laws are changing, you should still contact the police and get legal help. Frequently, as unbelievable as it sounds, the police will not even open an investigation or become involved. The really strange part of this is that if they arrested someone who was “you” via identity theft, they could then come and arrest the REAL you if you did not show up at a court hearing.

If you are a victim of identity theft, you need to take action and take it NOW. Delays only allow the thief to get further away and drastically lessen the possibilities of finding them. For more tips about what to do about identity theft and measures you can take to prevent identity theft from happening in the first place, please visit our web site.

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Identity theft is by no means limited to online transactions. Reports and studies indicate that it is just as rampant for offline activities. How about those offers for pre-approved credit cards or reduced rate mortgages that you get much more often than necessary delivered via US mail? What do you do with them? Of course, you have purchased an inexpensive paper shredder from your local office supply store like Best Buy of Office Depot and shred them, right? Please don’t tell me that you just throw them in the trash, because that is a prime place for identity theft robbers to get the information that they need to make YOU a victim of their antics.

From an offline perspective, you are encouraged to look over your credit card bills when they arrive in the mail. This includes bank statements and your mortgage statements every month. If someone were to steal the mail out of your mailbox while you were at work, is there enough information on any of those statements to enable an identity thief to open new accounts using your identity? If so, you may wish to have your statements sent to a PO box that is much more secure than your mailbox standing out by the road all day long where someone could steal your mail, or even check with your lender to see if they could send statements electronically via a secure connection to your secure emailbox.

You should place a fraud alert on your credit report, even if you are not a victim of identity theft. There are different names for this service, but it will require you to be contacted if anyone (including yourself) applies for credit using your name. This needs to be done with each of the three major national credit bureaus – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. If they give you any trouble with this, you are encouraged to report them to your state’s division of financial regulation. You are trying to protect yourself, they are providing a service, and if they are uncooperative, you do not need to put up with it.

One point to be taken very seriously is that if you have become a victim of identity theft, do NOT make any payments on any of the bills opened by the thief. If you do, this action could be used by the creditor to claim that it really is your account since you made at least one payment on it. As ludicrous as that sounds, you need to understand that the creditor realizes that if identity theft can be proven, they will most likely not even be able to collect as much as a penny on the dollar for the balance owed. So the creditor will make every attempt possible to claim that the fraudulent account really is yours, and if you make any payments on it, that will only service to substantiate their claims.

Be vigilant! You have rights and you need to be aware of what they are. You should also be aware that identity theft protection is available if you wish to utilize that route to protect yourself against identity theft.

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Don’t worry you’re not alone. Hundreds of thousands of people are in the same position you’re in right now and I want to encourage you. This to shall pass.

I’m not negating the seriousness of your dilemma, but I want you to know that there is light at the end of the tunnel, so lets get started.

Most of the information in this report was gathered from the FTC website. http://www.ftc.gov

The first thing you need to be very wary of is…

The Scam

Everyday, companies nationwide appeal to consumers with poor credit histories. They promise, for a fee, to clean up your credit report so you can get a car loan, a home mortgage, insurance, or even a job. The truth is, they can’t deliver. After you pay them hundreds or thousands of dollars in fees, these companies do nothing to improve your credit report; most simply vanish with your money.

The Warning Signs

If you decide to respond to a credit repair offer, look for these tell-tale signs of a scam:

* companies that want you to pay for credit repair services before they provide any services.
* companies that do not tell you your legal rights and what you can do for yourself for free.
* companies that recommend that you not contact a credit reporting company directly.
* companies that suggest that you try to invent a new credit identity and then, a new credit report by applying for an Employer Identification Number to use instead of your Social Security number.
* companies that advise you to dispute all information in your credit report or take any action that seems illegal, like creating a new credit identity. If you follow illegal advice and commit fraud, you may be subject to prosecution.

You could be charged and prosecuted for mail or wire fraud if you use the mail or telephone to apply for credit and provide false information. It’s a federal crime to lie on a loan or credit application, to misrepresent your Social Security number, and to obtain an Employer Identification Number from the Internal Revenue Service under false pretenses.

Under the Credit Repair Organizations Act, credit repair companies cannot require you to pay until they have completed the services they have promised.

The Truth

No one can legally remove accurate and timely negative information from a credit report. The law allows you to ask for an investigation of information in your file that you dispute as inaccurate or incomplete. There is no charge for this. Everything a credit repair clinic can do for you legally, you can do for yourself at little or no cost. According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA):

* You’re entitled to a free report if a company takes adverse action against you, like denying your application for credit, insurance, or employment, and you ask for your report within 60 days of receiving notice of the action. The notice will give you the name, address, and phone number of the consumer reporting company. You’re also entitled to one free report a year if you’re unemployed and plan to look for a job within 60 days; if you’re on welfare; or if your report is inaccurate because of fraud, including identity theft.

* Each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion is required to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. The companies are rolling this out across the country during a nine-month period. By September 2005, consumers from coast to coast will have access to a free annual credit report if they ask for it. For details, see Your Access to Free Credit Reports at ftc.gov/credit. Otherwise, a consumer reporting company may charge you up to $9.50 for another copy of your report within a 12-month period.

* You can dispute mistakes or outdated items for free. Under the FCRA, both the consumer reporting company and the information provider (that is, the person, company, or organization that provides information about you to a consumer reporting company) are responsible for correcting inaccurate or incomplete information in your report. To take advantage of all your rights under this law, contact the consumer reporting company and the information provider.

STEP ONE

Tell the consumer reporting company, in writing, what information you think is inaccurate. Include copies (NOT originals) of documents that support your position. In addition to providing your complete name and address, your letter should clearly identify each item in your report you dispute, state the facts and explain why you dispute the information, and request that it be removed or corrected.

You may want to enclose a copy of your report with the items in question circled. Your letter may look something like the one on page 6. Send your letter by certified mail, “return receipt requested,” so you can document what the consumer reporting company received. Keep copies of your dispute letter and enclosures.

Consumer reporting companies must investigate the items in question usually within 30 days – unless they consider your dispute frivolous.

They also must forward all the relevant data you provide about the inaccuracy to the organization that provided the information.

After the information provider receives notice of a dispute from the consumer reporting company, it must investigate, review the relevant information, and report the results back to the consumer reporting company.

If the information provider finds the disputed information is inaccurate, it must notify all three nationwide consumer reporting companies so they can correct the information in your file.

When the investigation is complete, the consumer reporting company must give you the results in writing and a free copy of your report if the dispute results in a change. If an item is changed or deleted, the consumer reporting company cannot put the disputed information back in your file unless the information provider verifies that it is accurate and complete.

The consumer reporting company also must send you written notice that includes the name, address, and phone number of the information provider.

If you request, the consumer reporting company must send notices of any correction to anyone who received your report in the past six months. You can have a corrected copy of your report sent to anyone who received a copy during the past two years for employment purposes.

If an investigation doesn’t resolve your dispute with the consumer reporting company, you can ask that a statement of the dispute be included in your file and in future reports. You also can ask the consumer reporting company to provide your statement to anyone who received a copy of your report in the recent past. You can expect to pay a fee for this service.

STEP TWO

Tell the creditor or other information provider, in writing, that you dispute an item. Be sure to include copies (NOT originals) of documents that support your position. Many providers specify an address for disputes.

If the provider reports the item to a consumer reporting company, it must include a notice of your dispute. And if you are correct – that is, if the information is found to be inaccurate – the information provider may not report it again.

For more information, see How to Dispute Credit Report Errors at ftc.gov/credit.

Reporting Accurate Negative Information

When negative information in your report is accurate, only the passage of time can assure its removal. A consumer reporting company can report most accurate negative information for seven years and bankruptcy information for 10 years.

Information about an unpaid judgment against you can be reported for seven years or until the statute of limitations runs out, whichever is longer. There is no time limit on reporting: information about criminal convictions; information reported in response to your application for a job that pays more than $75,000 a year; and information reported because you’ve applied for more than $150,000 worth of credit or life insurance.

There is a standard method for calculating the seven-year reporting period. Generally, the period runs from the date that the event took place.

For more information, see Building a Better Credit Report at ftc.gov/credit.

The Credit Repair Organizations Act

By law, credit repair organizations must give you a copy of the Consumer Credit File Rights Under State and Federal Law” before you sign a contract.

They also must give you a written contract that spells out your rights and obligations. Read these documents before you sign anything. The law contains specific protections for you. For example, a credit repair company cannot:

* make false claims about their services
* charge you until they have completed the promised services
* perform any services until they have your signature on a written contract and have completed a three-day waiting period. During this time, you can cancel the contract without paying any fees

Your contract must specify:

* the payment terms for services, including their total cost
* a detailed description of the services to be performed
* how long it will take to achieve the results
* any guarantees they offer
* the company’s name and business address

Have You Been Victimized?

Many states have laws regulating credit repair companies. State law enforcement officials may be helpful if you’ve lost money to credit repair scams.

If you’ve had a problem with a credit repair company, don’t be embarrassed to report it.

While you may fear that contacting the government will only make your problems worse, remember that laws are in place to protect you. Contact your local consumer affairs office or your state Attorney General (AGs).

Many AGs have toll-free consumer hotlines. Check the Blue Pages of your telephone directory for the phone number or check www.naag.org for a list of state Attorneys General.

Need Help? Don’t Despair

Just because you have a poor credit report doesn’t mean you won’t be able to get credit. Creditors set their own credit-granting standards and not all of them look at your credit history the same way.

Some may look only at more recent years to evaluate you for credit, and they may grant credit if your bill-paying history has improved. It may be worthwhile to contact creditors informally to discuss their credit standards.

If you’re not disciplined enough to create a workable budget and stick to it, work out a repayment plan with your creditors, or keep track of mounting bills, consider contacting a credit counseling organization.

Many credit counseling organizations are nonprofit and work with you to solve your financial problems. But not all are reputable. For example, just because an organization says it’s nonprofit, there’s no guarantee that its services are free, affordable, or even legitimate. In fact, some credit counseling organizations charge high fees, or hide their fees by pressuring consumers to make “voluntary” contributions that only cause more debt.

Most credit counselors offer services through local offices, the Internet, or on the telephone. If possible, find an organization that offers in-person counseling.

Many universities, military bases, credit unions, housing authorities, and branches of the U.S. Cooperative Extension Service operate nonprofit credit counseling programs. Your financial institution, local consumer protection agency, and friends and family also may be good sources of information and referrals.

Reputable credit counseling organizations can advise you on managing your money and debts, help you develop a budget, and offer free educational materials and workshops.

Their counselors are certified and trained in the areas of consumer credit, money and debt management, and budgeting. Counselors discuss your entire financial situation with you, and help you develop a personalized plan to solve your money problems. An initial counseling session typically lasts an hour, with an offer of follow-up sessions.

For more information, see Knee Deep in Debt and Fiscal Fitness: Choosing a Credit Counselor at ftc.gov/credit.

Do-It-Yourself Check-Up

Even if you don’t have a poor credit history, some financial advisors and consumer advocates suggest you review your credit report periodically

* because the information it contains affects whether you can get a loan or insurance and how much you will have to pay for it.

* to make sure the information is accurate, complete, and up-to-date before you apply for a loan for a major purchase like a house or car, buy insurance, or apply for a job.

* to help guard against identity theft. That’s when someone uses your personal information like your name, your Social Security number, or your credit card number to commit fraud. Identity thieves may use your information to open a new credit card account in your name. Then, when they don’t pay the bills, the delinquent account is reported on your credit report. Inaccurate information like that could affect your ability to get credit, insurance, or even a job.

Sample Dispute Letter

Date
Your Name
Your Address
Your City, State, Zip Code

Complaint Department
Name of Company
Address
City, State, Zip Code

Dear Sir or Madam:

I am writing to dispute the following information in my file. The items I dispute also are encircled on the attached copy of the report I received.

This item (identify item(s) disputed by name of source, such as creditors or tax court, and identify type of item, such as credit account, judgment, etc.) is (inaccurate or incomplete) because (describe what is inaccurate or incomplete and why). I am requesting that the item be deleted (or request another specific change) to correct the information.

Enclosed are copies of (use this sentence if applicable and describe any enclosed documentation, such as payment records, court documents) supporting my position. Please investigate this (these) matter(s) and (delete or correct) the disputed item(s) as soon as possible.

Sincerely,
Your name

Enclosures: (List what you are enclosing)

The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them.

To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit http://www.ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261.

The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad

Finally one of the most little known & easiest ways ID thieves can steal your personal information is right over your computer.

You MUST take precautions to protect yourself from crooks thieves and scammers from harvesting your credit card information, banking information, passwords etc by using commonly available tools to help you put a barrier between you computer and the rest of the worlds.

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What happens in a case of identity theft? Basically, the thief “becomes” you, opens loan accounts, charge cards, and credit cards in your name, then disappears into the sunset, never to be seen again. In the meantime, the first that you become aware of it is when you start getting calls from lenders and creditors that you have never heard of and where you “know” you do not have an account, asking when you going to start making payments or is there a problem? But by then, it is far too late.

Let’s back up a step. How does identity theft occur? Identity theft occurs when a third becomes you. That is done by a thief going through your trash and coming up with something that has your unique identifiers on it. If you have decent or good credit, you probably get these pre-approved cards in the mail all the time for credit cards and loan accounts. What do you do with these offers? Do you simply throw them in the trash? If so, you are putting yourself at risk for identify theft, as much of America does. Instead, invest in a small shredder, probably under $50 at Best Buy, Circuit City, or your local office supply store, and shred documents such as those. Anything that has identifiable information on it other than “Occupant” goes into the shredder.

Another way this happens is in restaurants, and unfortunately, even some of the nicer restaurants. Dinner has come and gone and you are enjoying the ambiance of this restaurant and the company of your spouse and perhaps some guests. The waiter or waitress brings the check, and you pick it up, glance at it, then lay it back on the table with your credit card. BIG MISTAKE. What happens is that your credit card has left your sight for a period of time – more than enough time for a possible thief to write down your credit card information, your expiration date, your CCV code (that three or four digit code on the back of your card), and get the bill back to you. You do not know what has happened to your credit card while it was out of your sight. Chance is good that nothing is going to happen with your credit card, but what if it does? You just gave the thief everything they wanted to start a spending spree, and in the online world, all you need is a credit card, expiration date, and CCV number.

Do not allow yourself to become a victim of identity theft. Be very aware of where you are and who you are with. If it is necessary to pay for a meal like at a restaurant with a credit card, ask the waiter to bring the bill to your table. With the rising amount of crime that is seen this way, most waiters will think nothing of the request. They can get credit authorization just with the account number, not with CCV or expiration date. The bottom line is not to make yourself an easy target.

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