Define Identity Theft Facts and 9 Ways to Prevent Identity Theft

IDENTITY THEFT FACTS:
Identity theft happens when someone uses your personal identification like social security number, driver license, passport or credit card number without your permission to commit fraud/crimes. If you're one of identity theft victims then you're not alone, there more than 9 million identity theft court cases in USA every year resulting in $52.6 billion financial losses based on what Federal Trade Commission said.

HERE ARE 9 WAYS TO PREVENT IDENTITY THEFT:

1. Be certain to know what the content of your wallet/purse is. Gather a list of credit/debit cards phone# and keep it in a secure location, be prepared to notify them in case your wallet/purse is lost or stolen.

2. Safeguard your personal information. Use your shredder to shred any documents like credit card receipts and pre-approved credit card application whenever you don't need. Also never store your personal information in your own cell phone.

3. Never trust the caller. Never give your personal information to people over the phone unless you know who the caller is. It's one of the best ways to protect your identity.

4. Review your credit report. Check your updated report from major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, Trans Union) at least once a year. If you notice any error, go ahead to dispute it immediately for protection against identity theft.

6. Be careful of spoof emails. Never give your PIN or password in your email reply if you receive email from your bank saying they ask them to provide your PIN or password for verification. Because your banks don't send an email to ask their customers for password verification.

7. Change your PIN/password periodically. Don't choose your SSN, birhdate or your family member's name for your ATM password, instead choosing combinations of characters and numeric, because it's wise to avoid password that can be easily guessed, the way it could protect yourself against phishing.

8. Be certain to shop online more secure. Make sure the online store use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) which encrypts sensitive information before you buy online with your credit card. Otherwise, close the browser immediately to stop identity theft.

9. Delete all of your personal files. If you sell/donate your computer, make sure the hard drive is wiped absolutely clean. Also you can re-format the hard drive.

Identity theft facts help you to take necessary precautions in order to avoid identity theft. Find out now about how can Pre-Paid Legal's Identity Theft Shield help you.

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