Identity Theft Facts

Identity theft is the act of pretending to be someone different than you really are. It involves stealing personal information from other people and using it to open fake accounts in a name other than your own.

There are many forms of identity theft. Thieves can steal your credit card information, your Social Security number, or even your medical records. Criminals may use a variety of means to get your information. They can use a cell phone to take photos of credit cards, counterfeit your debit card when you go out to eat at a restaurant or shop at the mall, or even research public and government records to steal personal information. By stealing any part of your identity thieves pose a serious threat to your credit score, and your ability purchase things such as a home or a car.

Identity theft is not a phenomenon that will go away anytime soon. In fact because if the increasing prevalence of personal information that gets shared online, it is the fastest growing crime in the US. It is estimated that approximately 10 million people have their identities stolen every year. The average identity theft results in about $1,000 for the victim to recover from.

How can identity theft be prevented? There are many steps you can take to help prevent your identity from being stolen. Making sure you shred any papers that have personal information on them before you throw them away is one way. Paying close attention to what information you share is another. If you do any online shopping be sure to only enter credit card information through secured check outs, and never leave that information in emails in your email account.

Additionally, you can use an identity protection service to monitor your credit report on your behalf. This credit monitoring service will notify you when there is something of concern in your credit history, and you can get the matter fixed right away. If you apply for items such as a passport, drivers’ license, or Social Security card and do not receive them timely through the mail, make sure you contact the authorities to make sure they have not been stolen. Shred your bank and credit card statements, canceled checks or other documents containing personal information before you throw it in the trash.