Guarding Against Identity Theft

Hosam Farag Com215_XP40 Blog Article Guarding Against Identity Theft Introduction Anyone who has dealt with identity theft knows how much of a nightmare it can be. Dealing with credit card companies, credit bureaus, and customer service representatives can be very overwhelming. In this article I will give you a few methods that will hopefully guard you against identity theft. Internet Precautions The easiest way for someone to steal your identity is through the world wide web. Be very cautious with the types of information you expose to the internet. Keep important information such as your birthday, your mother's maiden name, address, and social security number private. If you are paying bills online, consider paying them using the phone or through the mail. I understand it is easier to pay your bills online and a lot of people really like this option. Keeping your personal information off the world wide web greatly reduces your chances of being a victim of identity theft. If you insist on paying your bills online, make sure you have an up to date anti-virus software and firewall. The firewall is highly recommended because it will guard the stream of information that flows through your internet connection. There are plenty of anti-virus software programs available on the internet. A lot of them offer a free trial to see if you like the service. Bitdefender, McAfee, Kaspersky, and Norton are a few of the popular services that are available. The following website has the top ten anti-virus software reviews for 2013 (http://anti-virus-software-review.toptenreviews.com/). The site will also break down the services available with each provider and it will give you the cost as well. Protecting Personal Information Identity thieves have found very creative ways to steal your personal information. Never give personal information through text messages, emails, or incoming phone calls. One common method these thieves will use is sending a text message or email concerning your bank account. They will ask you for information such as your birthday, social security number, and your mother's maiden name. Please remember that your bank will never ask for this information through email or text message. Usually the only time personal information is required, is when you call the bank. Another method to guard against identity theft is to have your bank checks delivered to your bank. Having them delivered to your house is a easy way for your checks to fall into the wrong hands. Finally, investing in a shredder could be the best investment you ever made. Identity thieves will go to the extreme of searching through your garbage to steal personal information. Credit Cards and Credit Reports Keeping a close eye on your credit card statements and credit bureaus is essential to guarding against identity theft. When you receive your credit card statements check for suspicious charges that you are not familiar with. Contact your credit card company immediately if there is a charge that does not look right. Keep track of how many credit cards you have and also make sure the credit card companies have the right home address on file. When your credit card expires, you do not want your new card going to your old address. Last but not least, order you credit report every six months or at least once a year. You can obtain your report from all three credit bureaus. The bureaus are Experian, Equifax, and Transunion. Once you receive your reports, check to make sure all your information is correct. The report will list your current address, past addresses, birthday, social security number, employers, credit card information, your name, and how much debt you owe. If you have fell victim to identity theft in the past, you might want to consider establishing a fraud alert with the credit bureaus. Conclusion Identity theft can turn your life upside down. Anyone can fall victim to identity theft. It is a crime that violates people's information and personal property. The effects of identity theft can leave emotional and financial scars. Hopefully with the methods from this article you can guard your personal information from identity theft. Works Cited Neal, A. (2007). Guarding Against Identity Theft. Saturday Evening Post, 279(3), 48-96. Lankford, K. (2008). Your Id-Theft Prevention Kit. Kiplinger's Personal Finance, 62(4), 72-74.

Stephan, M. J., Pennington, S., Krishnamurthi, G., & Reidy, J. (2009). Identity Burgulary. Texas Review Of Law & Politics, 13(2), 401-418.