Identity theft is the number one crime in the world today, and its not going away any time soon. That's why it's so important to make sure you have some kind of protection against identity theft so you're not caught up in it. If you're not sure of how to protect yourself from identity theft, you should take heed of the following tips, as they'll go a long way in making sure your identity is safe. - Always go directly to your financial institut [Read More]
Identity Theft Crime
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Dangers of Identity Theft
Identity theft is a common crime occurring all across the United States. You do not have to live in a large city to fall victim; these criminals are professional and will target anybody who has a name and social security number.
An identity thief can obtain one piece of identifying information from you, including just your name, place of birth, address, or even your mother’s maiden name to retrieve any addition information they need (account numbers, social security number, etc). Once the culprit has this information, they can use it for their own personal gain, leaving you with years of damage.
The damage resulting in identity theft is endless, including bad credit rating, inability to acquire new credit cards or loans, high interest rate, job loss, emotional stress and strain on your personal life, loss of money, and even legal ramifications. It is important to take every step you can to prevent falling victim to this serious and growing crime.
Alarming Statistics
Identity theft is a growing crime affecting over 10 million people last year alone. A study from 2009 indicated the following startling statistics:
-The Better Business Bureau reports the top complaint of consumers for the last 5 years has been related to identity theft -71 percent of fraud occurs within the very first week that an identity is stolen -The average victim of identity theft incurs $16,000 worth of damages -The average victim spends 600 hours resolving the issues associated with identity theft. -85% of identity theft victims do not realize their identity has been stolen until they are denied for a loan or credit card -Only 20% of victims experience their own credit card bills run up by identity thieves. Most often, thieves will create and abuse new accounts, causing it to take longer to be discovered.
What You Can Do
First, it is important to use common sense when divulging your information. Never give any information out over the phone, install virus protection on your computer, monitor your credit rating and your bank/credit accounts, destroy all documents with your information on it before throwing it away, be wary of enter any information about yourself on the internet, and report anything suspicious right way.
You alone will not be able to fully protect yourself. With the advancement of methods from these criminals, it is important to have someone working full time by your side. For this reason, it is crucial that you enlist the help of a professional identity theft protection service. This way, you can rest assured that your identity is safe and should something go wrong, you are covered. This is a small investment you can make but it will create a large payoff in the future.
With the amount of services available, it is easy to become confused. Don’t let it be an overwhelming task! Use the detailed reviews on this site to evaluate the features of each service and to decide which best meets the your own personal needs!