subject: The Do's And Don'ts To Stay Away From Identity Theft [print this page] Anyone who has been a victim of scams and identity theft can tell what a horrible experience it can be. Your credit score and rating can go down significantly within days and your financial information will be acquired by thieves who can do almost all kinds of unscrupulous crimes, including cleaning out bank accounts. If you do not take preventive measures now, you may suffer the bitter consequences in the future. It could take years to recover from deficits and restore your identity. This crime has invaded the United States for several years now, and there are no signs of it being resolved anytime soon.
In fact, as technological advancements continue, this problem will surely keep on getting worse. The Internet has been proven to be a great help for identity thieves in keeping their own identity from the public, meaning they can continue doing this crime. They can easily get a hold of your most sensitive and valuable information if you are not careful enough in protecting your identity. In case your credit cards got stolen, contact your issuer immediately and cancel all existing cards. It would definitely be easier to replace credit cards than to fix the damages caused by thieves.
When it comes to paper trash, use a paper shredder to assure you that "dumpster divers" cannot get their hands on them.
Moreover, be careful of the possible risks involved in receiving spontaneous junk mail. Because most identity cases today occur online, be sure to have enough protection against spamming and information stealing. Here are some of the do's and don'ts in protecting your identity from such crimes:
DO:
1.Keep track of your credit report by ordering a copy every year, and review every entry to make sure that you made all the transactions.
2.Destroy all credit receipts and previous bank bills and statements before throwing them into the trash.
3.Close unused credit or bank accounts.
4.Make sure your name is not included in mailing lists for telemarketers and pre-approved credit lines.
5.Have a safe place for PIN numbers when using a public telephone or ATM.
6.Contact your service provider or creditor immediately if you notice some strange changes or if bills suddenly arrive.
7.Have virus software and firewall program for your computer to avoid hacking or information breach.
DO NOT:
1.Disclose any sensitive information especially regarding your accounts and identity unless you initiated the act.
2.Carry in your pocket or wallet your Social Security Number or account PIN numbers.
3.Indicate your SSN on any of your checks or identifiers.
