In the past few years it has gotten easier and easier for criminals to steal your identity. Nearly everything is handled electronically these days and you would think that it would be harder for any would-be thieves to get your data. Unfortunately thats not the case. Avoiding identity theft is more than just worrying about who has access to the pin number for your debit card. Here are a few more tips on avoiding identity theft.
Buying a shredder to shred up important documents that you no longer need is a good first step in preventing identity theft. Almost every piece of mail you receive has some kind of identifying information on it these days and it’s best to make sure that any documents with personal information such as credit card statements or offers, receipts, and the like are quickly introduced to the shredder as soon as you’re done with them. Persons living with family, friends, and roommates should be especially careful as, unlikely as it may seem, these are the people that most often commit identity theft.
Getting a shredder is one of the best first steps to avoiding identity theft but that alone won’t protect you. The more sophisticated identity thieves can get your personal information using other means. Almost everyone uses a computer either at home or at work these days and that’s just one more way you can become a potential target. When purchasing something online have you ever considered who has access to the information you just gave them? Or if you’re using a computer that other people use as well, like at the library or office, you may be leaving tell tell traces with your information available to anyone else that happens to use the same computer. Granted most people aren’t going to steal your identity and even if they wanted to most wouldn’t have the knowledge necessary to take advantage of those situations but you need to be aware that it can happen. More and more thieves are becoming techno savvy and you never know where or when one of them will stumble across your information.
Even the most careful of us can become targets of identity theft through no fault of our own. It is imperative that everyone monitor their bank and credit card statements looking for strange activity and report anything unusual immediately. This is one of the keys to avoiding identity theft that many people often overlook. Inaccuracies in these statements may be the first indication that your identity has been compromised. If you never open them or look at them it may be months or years before the identity theft is discovered. By then your credit may be destroyed and debt collectors are calling you to collect on debts that you didn’t create.
Finally, take a look at your credit report at least once a year. Your credit report is one of the most important tools you have for avoiding identity theft. There are many ways to get a copy of your credit report for free so take advantage of that. Just like your bank and credit card statements, your credit report is a great way to spot problems and discrepancies you may have otherwise never noticed. Report any inaccurate or unknown activity to the credit bureaus immediately. Place a fraud alert on your account to help protect your information even if there are no problems with your account. A fraud alert lets any potential creditor know that they must verify your identity before opening or extending credit in your name.
These are just a few of the things that are helpful in avoiding identity theft. Be diligent and use common sense to protect your personal information. Use a shredder to destroy personal documents you no longer need, check your bank and credit card statements for accuracy, and check your credit report at least once per year. Following these simple rules can help you protect your identity.
Originally posted 2009-10-14 15:09:15.
