Learn How Not To Be An Identity Theft Victim

Every year thousands of cases of identity theft are reported to the FTC. A report by the same body states that since 1997, over 3 million of these types of cases have been reported to law enforcement agencies world wide. And the numbers keep climbing every year. The development of information technology has only made it perhaps easier to commit these crimes. But are there ways of you preventing yourself from being one of the unlucky victims or avoiding a recurrence, if you have already been stung?
There are 3 steps that anyone can take to reduce this risk. Let us look at them one after the other.

1. Protect Your Credit Card: This is one of the most sensitive of your personal information. It is also one of the most targeted by fraudsters because it contains your financial information, which they can put to immediate use by buying stuff, etc. You should make sure that you keep your card away in your wallet or other storage system when not in use. Also, make sure that when your credit or debit card is swiped at any terminal, that the first twelve digits are masked. This will prevent potential thieves from stealing this information. When you endorse the merchant's copy, also ensure that you give it to them yourself and not leave it on the table, where others can pick it up without your knowledge.

2. Keep Away Your SSN: Your social security number is probably the most sensitive of your personal information. It is used to get a new job, open a bank account, file your tax returns and lots more. If it falls into the wrong hands, it might spell a lot of trouble. If you discover or suspect that some person or company is meddling with it, report it immediately to any one of the three credit reporting agencies so that they can put a fraud alert on your credit file. You may also want to report it to the police and the FTC so that proper investigation can be carried out. Without taking the adequate steps to report it, you may be liable for a lot of things for a long time to income, including not being able to get a loan, buy a house, etc. Also, be wary of organizations that use it as your identification number with them. You could probably have a different type of member or user ID created for you.

3. Shred Sensitive Information: It is a wise idea to buy a paper shredder if you will be needing to get rid of a lot of documents with your personal information in it. Bills, forms and similar documents that contain your SSN, credit or debit card information, telephone numbers, date of birth and others should be shredded and not just put away in the trash can.

Whether you are a struggling low-income earner of a well-off business owner, it is one of the wisest decisions of your life that you should take steps to prevent yourself from being a victim of identity theft.