Stop Identity Theft

Identity Legal Services Theft Section


Welcome to Stop Identity Theft

Identity Legal Services Theft Article

Identity Theft - More Tips on How it Can Be Avoided By Charles Essmeier Recent security breaches at several credit card companies continue to worry Americans, as stolen financial information can lead to identity theft. Identity theft occurs when someone obtains your Social Security number and/or other vital information and uses it to pose as you. By doing so, they can take advantage of your good credit history to open new credit card accounts or obtain loans. They get to spend the money, but you get to pay the bills. It often takes a victim a year or more to even detect that he or she has been a victim of ID theft; clearing up the mess caused by an identity theft scam can take years and can harm you personal credit report indefinitely. We have covered a few identity theft tips in previous articles, but here are some more things the conscientious consumer can do to minimize the chances of being the latest victim of an ID theft scammer:

  • When engaged in online banking activity, avoid using short or obvious passwords. Names of children, family pets, favorite sports teams and the like are obvious choices and are easily guessed by thieves. Many scammers now use “dictionary attacks” to obtain passwords, which will try every word in the dictionary until the password is cracked. If you use a common name or word, you are vulnerable. If you must use words from the English language for passwords, use long ones. “TheNewYorkYankeesTotallyRock” is a better password than “Yankees.” If you can, use a mixture of letters and numbers. Longer is better.
  • Buy a shredder. Keep important documents, of course, but shred the documents you no longer need or unwanted credit card applications that come in the mail. Thieves can and do search through garbage to obtain such things. If you don’t need it, shred it.
  • Do not provide financial or personal information to anyone who calls you. The party on the phone may say that they are from your bank, but your bank isn’t going to call you to ask for your credit card or Social Security number. If in doubt, hang up and call the institution directly. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
  • Print as little information as possible on your checks. Don’t preprint your phone number, driver’s license number or Social Security number. You’re making that information available to anyone who sees your checks. Print your name and address only; you can provide any other information yourself if necessary.
  • Don’t carry your Social Security card with you. Put it in a safe place. Many people are never asked to show the card during their lifetimes, so only bad can result from carrying it around with you. Be safe. Leave the card at home. While you’re at it, remove any other credit or debit cards from your wallet that you rarely use. Keep them at home and take them with you only if you need them. The fewer cards you carry the less damage that can be done if you lose them. Anyone concerned about identity theft should make it as difficult for thieves to obtain his or her personal information as possible. A few simple steps can go a long way towards avoiding what could be a drawn-out and expensive problem. About the Author: ©Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including End-Your-Debt.com, a site devoted to debt consolidation and credit counseling, and HomeEquityHelp.com, a site devoted to information regarding mortgages and home equity lending.

    Identity Legal Services Theft Best products

    Identity Legal Services Theft News

    Identity Theft Crackdown Sweeps Across the Nation

    WASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service and the Justice Department today announced the results of a massive national sweep cracking down on suspected identity theft perpetrators as part of a stepped-up effort against refund fraud and identity theft.

    Read more...

    Layne: Preventing ID theft is the best way to handle fraud

    CHARLES TOWN - The most important thing people can do to protect themselves from identity theft is to obtain their credit reports regularly, Argina Layne told the Eastern Panhandle Entrepreneurs Forum at its recent meeting.

    Read more...

    IRS warns of identity theft, tax fraud

    Maria Rojas held her W2, waiting to file her taxes at Jackson Hewitt Tax Service center. The recent trip to the office in her local Walmart would take her a step closer to a much-awaited refund check.

    Read more...

    Peter Hoss, Scam of the Month: What to do if a wallet is lost or stolen

    When I wrote a column some time ago about the risk of identity theft from lost or stolen wallets, I did not realize I would soon have to follow my own advice. Before Christmas, I went to my bank to deposit cash and checks after stopping to pick up copies of my Christmas letter.

    Read more...

    Edgecombe-Nash Retired School Personnel learn of legal services plan

    The Edgecombe-Nash Retired School Personnel met Nov. 15 in the Warner Room at Braswell Memorial Library. President Laurette Lewis welcomed everyone. Lewis read a thank-you note from Yolanda Owen, winner of the Edgecombe Community College scholarship. She will present the scholarship award at ECC.

    Read more...

    ROD AUSTIN: Google: Big brother or friendly mega-company?

    Since its creation, Google has always been a revolutionary company. With so many different products, services, engines and innovations, it's hard to see how the "legal" aspect of the company can keep up. In answer to that issue, Google has decided to drop more than 60 of its current privacy policies and has instead decided to create one combined privacy policy that covers all its products and ...

    Read more...