Identity Theft Protection Prevention and Statistics – How Long Until You Become a Victim
Identity theft is becoming all too common for millions of Americans. Each year, nearly nine million people are affected by someone trying to take over their identity and credit.
However, there are a variety of steps that can be taken to both prevent identity theft and clean up the mess, should you become a victim.
One of the first steps you can take in preventing identity theft is to maintain a close look at your credit.
Every six months, request copies of your credit reports from the three main credit bureaus. This will give you a close look at what type of credit you currently have open as well as who has pulled your credit.
Mail is a great way for someone to steal your identity. Therefore, it is important to keep a close eye on your mail. If you are going to be out of town for any period of time, you can request that the post office hold your mail until you return. Never leave your mail in the mailbox over night. As well, if you have requested a credit card through the mail and it does not arrive in a timely manner, be sure to contact the company immediately.
Whenever you are mailing documents with personal information on them, take them directly to the post office. This will prevent a thief from being able to steal the documents from your mail box.
Shred!
Make sure that you own a shredder. Anytime you receive an unwanted credit card application or have any other documents with personal information on it that you no longer want, make sure that you put it through the shredder. When looking to purchase a shredder, make sure you get one that cross shreds and will also cut through your credit cards.
Identity Theft Victim
If you believe you have been a victim of identity theft, there are a variety of different steps you will need to take. You will want to begin by contacting the Federal Trade Commission and filing a complaint. They will be an excellent resource to help you get your life back together. It is also important that you put fraud alerts on all of your accounts. This can be done by contacting the three main credit bureaus. You will also need to let all of your creditors and banks know that you have been a victim of identity theft.
One of the biggest mistakes you can make is having a mindset that you cannot become a victim of identity theft. It is this type of mindset that allows your guard to come down.
Therefore, it is important that you take as many precautions as possible to avoid becoming a victim. By taking some extra steps, you can easily reduce your chances of becoming an identity theft victim.
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