Forewarned Is Forearmed: Identity Theft Alerts
April 23rd, 2008 by <ADMINNICENAME> Subscribe To Our Feed
Identity theft is the stealing of another person’s identity generally for the purpose of stealing another person’s financial resources. In today’s society this is often accomplished by tricking people into giving Social Security numbers, personal identification numbers, financial account numbers, etc. Or the personal information needed can be gained by sorting through people’s trash or by stealing pieces of mail meant for others. In addition, there are those knowledgeable thieves who “hack” into computer databases in an effort to download the needed personal information to steal another’s identity.
In an effort to counter this identity theft epidemic there are many measures that have been taken. For example, legislation has been passed that allows individuals to freely access their credit reports on an annual basis to determine if any fraudulent activity has occurred. In addition, there are services that are provided through a membership basis that contract with individuals to help monitor their credit activity. Also, there are many agencies that circulate identity theft alerts to help minimize the damage of identity theft.
Of the three, probably the most practical and empowering ways to prevent identity theft is by paying attention to identity theft alerts. Therefore, it is important to understand what an identity theft alert is and the methods that these identity theft alerts utilize.
What Are Identity Theft Alerts?
Identity theft alerts are informational pieces of correspondence that are provided to the public to make them aware of identity theft scams or methods that identity theft crooks utilize to access the personal data of others. The intent of this information is to educate individuals of the dangers of identity theft, caution people about sharing personal information and alert others to new methods that are being utilized by identity thieves.
Methods of Broadcasting Identity Theft Alerts
There are a number of ways that identity theft alerts can be disseminated to the public. One of those ways is through a local identity theft alert release from various law enforcement agencies. Often these law enforcement agencies are privy to the latest scam in which unscrupulous people try to gain personal information from others. As a public service to the community often radio stations and television stations broadcast these alerts to their audiences.
For example a theft alert notice from a law enforcement agency can include the latest scam by internet identity theft scammers posing as the IRS. The scam may include E-mails sent to unsuspecting individuals posing as the IRS and asking that individuals respond to the E-mail with their bank account number and PIN. The message may be that the fraudulent IRS E-mail wants to deposit an IRS refund amount into the account of the individual.
Another way that identity theft alerts can be made available to the public is through the Internet. Often reputable web sites will post theft alerts on their web site. These alerts are for the protection of the Internet user and are there to remind, explain and caution individuals about sharing personal information to others. Often a reputable web site can be a person’s personal banking web site or web sites that have an extension of dot gov or dot org attached to them.
Specifically these identity theft alerts will talk about protecting various numbers associated with your personal identity. These numbers can include Social Security numbers, personal identification numbers (PINS), bank account numbers, etc. Also theft alerts will talk about shredding personal mail, accessing credit reports, reviewing bank statements, etc.
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Knowing About What Is Identity Theft Can Help Prevent You From Becoming The Next Victim
April 22nd, 2008 by <ADMINNICENAME> Subscribe To Our Feed
It is certainly very important to learn about what is identity theft – that is, if you don’t want to end up becoming a victim, especially as identity thieves can devise the most clever and undetectable means of robbing you and thus you must ensure being forewarned and forearmed in order to protect yourself and your identity from various forms of identity theft. There are several things that occur when you are being robbed off your identity and it is best for you to know what these things are, and thus ensure that you not only know exactly what identity theft is, but do your best to avoid it.
Consequences Of Identity Theft
When an identity theft takes place, you will have your credit accounts and credit cards taken over by the thieves who may also then open new credit cards and credit accounts in your name and even take a loan while using your personal information in order to evade detection. Other than that, after stealing your identity, the thieves may even rent an apartment or flat while using your name and also gain unlawful access to your bank account and not stop at even committing crimes in your name.
Thus, knowing about what is identity theft will help you avoid the often devastating consequences that can occur once your identity has been stolen and though no physical robbing takes place, you can still suffer considerable loss in financial terms as a result of an identity theft. You thus need to know more than just what identity theft is and use your knowledge in taking preventive measures to forestall the possibility of having your identity stolen.
Common ways by which you can be robbed off your identity include thieves going through your mail and trash in order to unearth your bank and also credit card details. Or, you could be robbed off your wallet and then your stolen personal identification, credit cards and bank cards may be misused, or a simple ruse such as falsely extracting your personal details through sending change of address forms can help them gain access to your personal details.
The scale of identity theft in countries such as the US and UK is indeed staggering, and it is believed that more than hundred thousand people in the UK alone have been made victims of identity theft which costs the national exchequer billions of dollars each year. In fact, understanding what identity theft is is very important given the fact that in the US alone, there were, it is believed, fifteen million victims which work out to about one person being robbed of their identity every twenty-eight minutes.
Thus, the sooner you learn about what is identity theft and take adequate precautions to prevent from becoming the next victim, the better it will be for you.
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History Of Identity Theft May Be Traced To The First Cave
April 22nd, 2008 by <ADMINNICENAME> Subscribe To Our Feed
Back when people were first asked their name, identity theft was commonly used to obtain goods and services without having to pay for them. By pretending to be someone else, the history of identity theft was born. The electronic age has taken the theft of identity to new levels, but almost since the beginning of time there were people claiming to be someone else to either hide from their past or prevent a new history from being formed.
Prior to use of identification cards, it was not unusual for thieves to claim to be someone else. It was not always to get something for nothing, and sometimes they would travel under a false name in order to go about their way unnoticed, but the history of identity theft is rife with tales of death and destruction. One of the most common ways known to steal an identity during the early history of identity theft, was to simply make a person disappear, usually through murder, and then simply assume their identity.
While the internet has eliminated a lot of the violence associated with identity theft, it is no less devastating on the victims. Another major era in the history of identity theft included dumpster diving and rifling through mailboxes for personal information in the incoming and outgoing mail.
Computers Make Identity Theft Safer For Thieves
Instead of possibly being bitten by wild animals digging through trash cans, identity thieves moved to the telephone to get information directly from the intended targets. They could convince people they were calling from the bank needed to verify information and people would willingly turn over their personal information. With the use of the internet, they can simply send as email and do away with the telephone as the newest piece of the history of identity theft.
By developing websites that appear identical to real ones many people are used to seeing when they visit their bank or online retailer they often attempt to scare people into updating their information, including credit card numbers, social security numbers and other identifying information. Even people familiar with the history of identity theft are often victims, as they believe their knowledge will protect them from being a victim.
Essentially, it is common sense that will keep people from becoming a part of the history of identity theft and by only providing information in person, they can be sure only those with a legitimate need to know are getting their private information.
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Know How Identity Theft Is Done And Prevent It
April 22nd, 2008 by <ADMINNICENAME> Subscribe To Our Feed
Do you know what identity theft is in the first place? Can you define it? Identity theft is when somebody is able to successfully impersonate you for some illegal gain. This could in the form of financial gain, a job and even medical insurance.
How Can Someone Impersonate You - Identity Theft Is Easy
This is actually not as difficult as you would think. What the thief needs is one or two important personal information about you, which is most often than not done over phone or online. The theft can be done offline as well. Once you get an idea about the methods in which identity theft could be possible you might be able to protect and save yourself from a lot of headache and heartache.
An identity thief could be going through your garbage to find out bits and pieces about you, which could be used to steal your identity. Be careful what you throw in the trash. If you are throwing out checkbook stubs, credit card paid bills or receipts ensure that you tear them into small irreconcilable pieces or run them through a shredder. Ensure that nothing that you throw in the trash can be used to gather anything personal about you.
Beware of the person who hovers around the ATM when you are drawing your cash. Some of these seemingly innocent people would be watching you to learn your pin and your card number. These people are trained to capture such information even with a passing glance so be careful. If they manage to do so, all that have to do is steal your wallet and they could then clear your bank account.
Identity theft can be done online by accessing the Web pages you are using and stealing that information by scanning those very pages. This is why you should be very careful where and how you write your credit card number. It is amazingly easy to pick up the credit card details from an unsecured web site. Never key in your credit card number unless you are assured that you are on the correct website and that the page is encrypted. There would be a lock on the right side lower corner which means it is safe. That means that whatever you are typing on the page is encrypted so no one else other than the merchant provider can read it.
A thief could be overhearing your telephone call and once again you could face identity theft. Never give your credit card number over the telephone. The person who was calling or an eavesdropper could steal enough from your information to commit identity theft with utmost ease.
Ways College Students Can Avoid Identity Theft Usually Require Common Sense
January 22nd, 2008 by <ADMINNICENAME> Subscribe To Our Feed
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There Are Four Main Types Of Identity Theft To Be Aware Of
January 21st, 2008 by <ADMINNICENAME> Subscribe To Our Feed
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