What You Don’t Know Can Hurt Your Identity
Research shows that 10 million individuals will become a victim of identity theft this year. Chances are you too will become a victim of identity theft unless you are aware of the ways your identity can be stolen. Once you know how your identity can be stolen, you will be able to defend yourself against becoming a victim. Therefore, your first line of defense is knowing a thief’s offense. The following are six ways you your identity can be stolen.
One way your identity can be stolen is through a lost or stolen wallet. Once thieves have your personal information from a driver’s license, social security card or other identifying information from your wallet, they can open credit card and utility accounts in your name. They can also charge large amounts of merchandise on your credit cards. Thieves may also use your identity when dealing with the government to obtain public services, get a driver’s license or official ID card issued in your name, but with their picture, or even give out your personal information when arrested. Some thieves have even been known to use someone else’s identity when applying for jobs in order to use their background to pass criminal screenings.
The second way your identity can be stolen is by becoming comfortable with your day to day activities and your surroundings. Letting your guard down concerning your paper trail, especially your financial paper trails, is one way for thieves to access your personal information. Identity theft crimes are more likely to occur by someone you know or who you feel comfortable with. For example, if you employ someone who works in your home, such as a housekeeper, you need to be sure that your personal papers are kept in a secure location within your home. Be aware of who you perceive to be trustworthy before you allow them access to your home or personal records.
A third way thieves can access your personal information is by scouring dumpsters or trash cans to get receipts from financial institutions or pre-approved credit card applications. They can use this information to create counterfeit checks or open credit card accounts in your name. Thieves can also steal checks, bank statements and other financial documents straight from your mailbox before you ever know they are missing. It is important to monitor your incoming and outgoing paper mail and shred all financial documents before trashing them.
The fourth way thieves steal your identity is through telephone phishing scams. Pretexters call and pretend to be an employee of a popular company, such as Target, and proceed to tell you that there is a problem with your payment. Who wouldn’t be inclined to answer questions regarding financial information if they shop at Target and receive this sort of call? Furthermore, it is crucial that you are careful about what you tell others about yourself when on social websites or employment websites.
The fifth way thieves steal your identity is by literally looking over your shoulder. You should always be aware of your surroundings when standing at automated teller machines and even phone booths. A good thief can see what numbers you are typing when entering your pin number. They will then follow you, wait for a chance to get your ATM receipt, and then have access to all the money in your bank account. You should also be cautious of eaves droppers who overhear you giving your credit card or bank account information over the phone.
The sixth way to have your identity stolen is to, as simple as it sounds, fail to put protective measures in place to keep thieves from gaining access to your personal information. Whether you purchase identity theft protection services or put your own identity theft protection services in place, the important thing is for you to be proactive when it comes to protecting your identity. If you are not protected from identity theft, you inevitably have your identity stolen.
When it comes to knowing how your identity can be stolen, what you don’t know can hurt you. Learning the 6 ways your identity can be stolen is the first step in being knowledgeable about protecting your identity. What you choose to do with this knowledge is up to you. If you don’t do something regarding your identity, a thief certainly will.
