Stop The Identity Thieves Now

Have you ever been burglarized or have had something stolen from you

? I am sure if you have you know the feelings of the incident and how victimized you felt. Many have said it is like being violated or raped. The emotional trauma that occurs to someone that goes through this is indescribable. What's worse is when the authorities will not help you. You feel lost and alone - like there is no protection from those who want to harm and hurt you.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice in 2005, 6.4 million households discovered at that least one member in the household experienced some sort of identity theft. Almost 3 million of these households had credit card theft. At the end of 2005 there were 1.2 billion credit cards in the U.S. This is more opportunity for thieves to strike. In the statistics over 1 million people had personal information stolen from them, such as social security number, birth date and home address. Identity theft is on the rise and according to the Federal Trade Center this is the #1 concern of consumers.

And their fears are not unfounded because the facts speak for themselves. In 2006 there were 15 million victims. That means it doubled from 2005 and every minute 28 people become victims of this crime. Some of the experts say 70% of identity theft is an inside job. So who has your information? Retail stores, dentist office, insurance office, any healthcare provider you may use, employer, bank, credit card companies, and financial institutions. I am not saying your dentist is stealing information, but the hourly employee may. In fact, have you thought about the person next to you at work having access to your information? Just leaving your computer for a few minutes logged in is enough time for a trained thief to gather what they need to ruin your life.

More Tips: Reduce the risk by keeping your receipts and do not toss on the floor or throw in the trash. If you don't need it, shred it. Change your internet password frequently. Review your credit report to make sure you are aware of who is looking at your credit report. Contact authorities the moment you detect identity theft. Know your legal rights as a victim because this crime can follow you for years to come.

There are many ways to safe guard your identity. One is building an ID Theft Packet in case of emergency. This would include copies of your SS #, Drivers License/passport, Paycheck stub with your information, Utility bill, Phone bill, rental lease agreement, and W-2. You can research the information by using the internet and taking the actions needed to protect you and your identity. And remember to keep these in a safe place. If you have been violated you will all of the items above plus you Must Have a copy of the police report, and an ID Theft Affidavit. Be prepared for the unexpected and safeguard your identity! Being proactive may be your best weapon!

by: li baocai

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