Spam Laws HOME

Many people have been victims of identity theft, costing them millions of dollars in losses. Every year thousands of people become statistics. You don't have to be the next victim. There are a few methods you can take that will help keep identity theft from happening to you. [br][br]As a requirement, you should obtain your credit report at least once a year. This way you can keep tabs on what is on it. By examining your credit report, you will be able to know what is on the report and whether there are any accounts you don't recognize. By taking this step, you can eliminate one aspect to identity theft. You can contact the credit bureaus and let them know of the inaccuracies. This way they can remove them. [br][br]When you obtain a credit card you must sign it immediately and make sure to store your credit card in a safe place. After all, they are just like money, only the plastic kind. When you go out of the house, only carry the credit card you plan to use. And above all else, do not write your pin # on your card. If your card should get lost or stolen, anyone can have access to your account quickly, if you have your pin written on your card. Instead memorize your pin. [br][br]If you throw any documents away that contain any personal or financial information, make sure to shred it up completely. This way if anyone should decide to pick the trash, they won't find anything worthwhile to use. [br][br]If you order online, only shop at reputable stores you know of and have a history with. Do not deal with unknown stores that you never heard of. And, don't use your credit card if the transaction is not secure. There has to be either a lock on the bottom right hand corner of the browser window, or the address bar has to contain the letters "https." Also, don't give your credit card number to anyone over the phone unless it is a store that you do business with on a regular basis. [br][br]Keep track of your credit card bill and make note of when it comes in the mail. Keep tabs on it each month. The time you notice the bill does not come, contact the company to find out why. The sign of stolen identity is when bills no longer go to a regular address. Instead the bills start going to another address that was initiated by the thief.[br][br]Always collect your mail promptly if possible. Do not allow anyone else to have the key to your mailbox, if you live in an apartment complex. If you live in a house, and you work during the day, gather your mail as soon as you get home. If you have kids, tell your kids to get the mail as soon as they get home. The longer the mail stays in the box, the more likely someone will come and steal it. If necessary, rent a box at the post office. This way when you get off work, you just have to stop by the post office before you go home. [br][br]You should also have an antivirus and personal firewall software installed on your computer to prevent unauthorized access to your computer. This is especially important when doing business online, considering a lot of your order information is kept on your hard drive for future purchases. [br][br]You can prevent identity theft if you educate yourself as to how it is done. This way you can avoid situations that can warrant the theft. [br]

Reply