 |
|
The source of the best business, financial and legal news |
|
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
 | |
| |
 |
Business Informations |
|
|
|
Identity Theft Exploding: Here's How You Can Avoid Becoming A Victim
Americans are more concerned about identity theft than unemployment or corporate fraud, according to a survey of 2,000 people conducted by Star Systems. Nine out of ten Americans demand new federal legislation, while two-thirds say the financial services industry needs to do a better job of verifying the identity of customers who open bank accounts (66 percent) and credit card accounts (72 percent). Some 5.6 percent of respondents reported being victims of identity theft, which translates to 12 million people. When debit and credit card fraud and identity theft were combined, close to 15.9 percent of consumers say they have been the victim of one of these crimes. (Source: Star Systems, 2003) For most of us, using your debit or credit card to make a purchase has become an every day aspect of life. Many of us do it every day and feel safe in doing so. But it is far from safe. People with your debit or credit card information may make purchases with your card information over the telephone, via the Internet, or at a local retail store. As we moved to a cashless system of transactions by debit or credit card, a relatively simple crime niche has grown - identity theft and fraud. Some law enforcement authorities are not pursuing the crime in a coordinated and cooperative fashion. Thus, a situation has grown that affords the people who perpetrate such acts of theft and fraud, act with a degree of confidents that they will not get caught. What can you do to reduce your chances of becoming a victim of identity theft or fraud? Here is a list of actions that you can take to avoid becoming a victim of identity crimes. 1. Never throw receipts or statements away that have personal information on them. The trash is the greatest repository of information for the identity thief. Even better, shred everything that has identifying information on it (transaction receipts, etc.). 2. Pay to have an unlisted telephone number in your local telephone directory. 3. Take as much identification off of your personal checks and driver's license as possible. Thus, no home addresses, phone numbers, or social security numbers on personal checks. Last only your last name and first initial rather than your full name. You want a retail clerk to check your ID when you are cashing a check. Most states now provide a photo ID on all new automobile drivers licenses issued. If you do not have one, conceder getting your licenses renewed now to get a photo ID for identification purposes. Do not put your social security number on your driver's license. 4. Check your bank accounts for suspicious activity everyday, this can be done online via the Internet. 5. Have your middle initial removed from all public documentation if possible. Middle initials help identity thieves narrow down their searches for victims. 6. If someone calls you asking for your personal information on the telephone - do not provide any personal information to anyone over the phone. 7. Don't leave your mail out overnight. If you will be away from home for any period of time: have your home mail delivery stopped. If possible, secure a locked mail box at your local post office or a retail store mail box service for your home mail delivery. If you go on vacation, have your mail and newspaper delivery stopped and arrange to have your yard maintained. Include the post office, newspaper service, and your friends or neighbors to insure that your home looks as if it is occupied while you are gone. For a checklist for your home security while you are away see - www.ProtectionConnect.com/homesecuritychecklist.html or www.ProtectionConnect.com/sitemap.html#home 8. Write "Check ID" on the back of your debit or credit cards next to your signature. In that way, when a retail store checks your signature on your card, they will verify that the card is being used by the proper individual. 9. Be aware of people standing too close to you and "shoulder surfing" you while you conduct your ATM transactions. If you do become a victim of an identity crime - do the following: 1. Demand to file a police report no matter how unwilling the law enforcement office may be. Make sure to get a copy or at least the report number. 2. In the case of card fraud, make sure to cancel your card and report it as stolen to your credit card company as soon as you find out. Immediately, fill out affidavits with the appropriate financial institution denying that you were the one who made the relevant purchases. In most cases, the banks will respond with up to a 30-day process that requires the businesses that accepted the fraudulent transactions to repay the banks. 3. Report the fraud to the three major credit bureaus: * TransUnion * Equifax * Experian 4. The U.S. Secret Service handles fraud cases that cross state borders. If you know that your case applies, contact their local office to make them aware of your case. If it is part of a broader fraud case, you may be contacted by an agent. 5. You can also fill out a complaint form with the Federal Trade Commission, although this is strictly used to track national identity theft statistics. Copyright Steven Presar About The Author Steven Presar is a recognized small business technology coach, Internet publisher, author, speaker, and trainer. He provides personal, home, and computer security solutions at www.ProtectionConnect.com. He provides business software reviews at www.OnlineSoftwareGuide.com. In addition, he publishes articles for starting and running a small business at www.abcResults.com. Be sure to sign-up for the SOHO newsletter.
MORE RESOURCES:
credit - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
What is Credit Counselling? Ever wondered what is Credit Counselling? There are occasions when you might encounter a financial situation that is beyond your scope which is when a session with a credit counsellor could be beneficial.If you're not disciplined enough to create a workable budget and stick to it, can't work out a repayment plan with your creditors, or can't keep track of mounting bills, consider contacting a credit counselling organisation. Credit Card Incentives Credit card companies want your business. After all, lending money to people is profitable. Useful Tips on Borrowing Money Here are some useful tips on borrowing money. Borrowing money is one of the most common sources of funding for a small business, but obtaining a loan isn't always easy. Online Credit Report and Online Credit Reports Online credit reports are easily accessible to those interested in viewing them. If you have wondered about what kind of credit score you have, you can go on the Internet and look at your online credit report. Bank Robbery Growing In U.S. Bank robbery has grown to become a huge problem in the United States but I am not talking about people robbing banks. I am talking about banks robbing people. 4 Steps to Creating Good Credit As a consumer you've learned the importance of establishing a good credit rating with your lenders. Whether you are shopping for a new home or auto, or searching for the best deals on insurance, your credit worthiness will be judged by your credit rating or credit score. SuperCharged Secret 5, Credit Card Utopia LIVING IN CREDIT CARD UTOPIALet's just take a brief moment to recap:If you've been following along on this journey with me, learning the 5 Super-Charged secrets to Credit Card Utopia, then you now know 4 very important things:You now know how to take advantage of zero to low interest credit card offers.You now know that there is safety in numbers, and you know the magic "Who's Who" of the major credit card companies. Finding Reputable Credit Card Companies You're interested in getting the best credit cards for your family's needs, but you don't want to be cheated. Or you're interested in small business credit cards, but you've heard that some of them aren't terribly secure. Why Credit Cards are a Bad Idea Credit cards are just so convenient, aren't they? There's no need to carry any money with you ever again: you can just take one with you to the shop and pay the exact amount just by handing it over. If you haven't been paid yet, then you don't need to worry, because the money will still be there. Credit Score: The Brightest Feather In Your Financial Cap Credit scores are the most important aspect that determines your financial future. Carrying a good credit score is an asset and can pave your future towards greener pastures. Compare Credit Card Offers and Reward Yourself Here's a simple system on how to pay zero interest and get tons of free stuff. Almost everyone uses credit cards. Establishing Credit - What You Need To Know Part 2 In my previous article "Establishing Credit - What You Need To Know Part 1" I discussed the need for a good credit history and what lenders were looking for prior to loaning an individual money or additional funds based on their credit history. This article will go into the necessary steps someone needs to take in order to initially establish their credit history. The FICO Score Misconceptions There are many misconceptions about credit scores out there. There are borrowers who believe that they don't have a credit score. Credit Reports - Why Your Credit Score is Important If you have never heard of a FICO score before, you should become familiar with the term. Named for the firm that invented it, Fair Isaac Corp. Get Your Credit Score To Soar In The Twinkling of An Eye Ever wonder how a creditor decides whether to grant you credit? For years, creditors have been using credit scoring systems to determine if you'd be a good risk for credit cards and auto loans. More recently, credit scoring has been used to help creditors evaluate your ability to repay home mortgage loans. Your Credit Score Credit scores: all lenders use credit scores to determine interest rates and credit limits.The credit scoring system was developed in the early 1950's. Boosting Your Credit Score To Get The Best Credit Card Deal Making Your Credit Rating Work For YouOne of the basics of getting the most competitive credit card deal in the market is to ensure you have the best credit record possible. Few of us are lucky enough to be earning a six-figure salary, and many people are likely to have other financial undertakings that a potential lender will want to take into account. How to Dispute Credit Report Errors Your credit report--a type of consumer report--contains information about where you work and live and how you pay your bills. It also may show whether you've been sued or arrested or have filed for bankruptcy. Saving Money with Credit Cards Having a credit card is a wonderful convenience for those times when you don't have immediate access to your cash. It can allow you to purchase something on time for which you can pay later, thereby giving you the ability to afford something NOW that you'd have had to save for later. It Is In Your Best Interest To Do The Math On Your Credit Card Interest If you begin foaming at the mouth once a month when you receive your credit card statement, join the millions of Americans that are foaming along with you. There is a growing outrage at the seemingly endless journey towards eliminating the balance on your credit card and that is due primarily to the extravagant interest rates charged by credit card companies.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
||||
|
