Taking Steps To Protect Yourself From Identity Theft
submitted: Jun 20th 2008 |
by: PaulWilcox |
Total views: 1 |
Word Count: 374 |
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There are several different things that can be considered identity theft - the fraudulent use of someone else's credit card, seeking employment in someone else's name and running up bills using another peron's name, for example. Unfortunately, the victims of identity theft are often held responsible for debts or other problems that are created. For this reason, you should follow some simple guidelines to protect yourself.
Firstly, we should all recognize the various forms of identity theft and how they occur in order to know how to prevent it from happening. There are many tips for protection against identity theft that we can easily follow such as checking our credit ratings regularly and keeping an eye on our bills for any unusual activity.
- Don't give our your private information unless it's someone you know well and you know you can trust
- Get a shredder for all sensitive documents like bank and credit card statements, and shred them before you throw them out
- Keep your social security number confidential and NEVER have it printed on your check book
- Leave unnecessary identification at home or someplace safe so they are not stolen
- Think about taking your information out of the telephone book
- Cancel and destroy all credit cards that you don't use
- If your wallet or purse is stolen, contact all financial institutions you have accounts with
Other tips for protection against identity theft are to keep any valuable information in the home locked away in a safe. If you receive unsolicited emails or telephone calls requesting your personal information, do not give any information away unless you contact your bank yourself to verify that the caller is legitimate. If traveling, keep copies of your identification at home in case they are stolen.
Tips for Protection against Online Identity Theft
Protecting yourself on the internet isn't complicated. Make sure you have a current antivirus and spyware scanner on your computer, and keep them updated. Change your passwords on a regular basis and make sure they're hard to guess. Ideally you should use a combination of letters, number and symbols. Never respond to emails asking for private information such as credit card details or account information. Before logging into your bank or credit card website, verify that the website is legitimate.
About the Author
Worried about identity theft and other internet threats? Learn how to set up solid PC security so you don't get attacked on the net. Get more helpful tips and information at http://www.securitymanor.com
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