What is identity theft.
Each year, thousands of people are victims of identity theft. While recent advances in telecommunications and information technology facilitate communication between businesses and consumers, they also allow the widespread dissemination of your personal information, making it easier for criminals. Identity theft is the collection and unauthorized use of your personal information, usually for criminal purposes. Your name, birth date, address, credit card, Social Security Number (SSN) and other personal identification number can be used to open a bank account, get a credit card, forward mail, subscribe to a cellular phone service, rent vehicles, equipment or offices, and even get a job. If someone stole your identity, you could become responsible for the bills, charges, bad checks or tax of such person. The FTC estimates that as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year.
How to prevent identity theft
— Reduce the risk. Use caution when communicating or allow disclosure of your personal information.
— If you are asked your personal information, ask about the use that is made, the reasons why it is collected, people who consult them and how they will protect your information.
— Only give minimum information about yourself and keep on you as little personal information as possible.
— Be very careful about your SSN. It provides access to a large amount of your personal information, especially those contained in credit reports and databases.
— Never give out your credit card number over the phone or in e-mail unless you know the recipient, or if it was you who took the initiative to communicate your information, and you know that communication is secure.
— For the Internet, use the technologies that protect your safety and privacy, such as digital signatures, encryption, and services to maintain your anonymity.
— Watch your bills carefully. If you do not receive it from your credit card or you are missing the electricity or gas, call the company concerned and ensure that these bills have not been illicitly diverted.
— Immediately notify your creditors in case of loss or theft of your social security or credit cards.
— Consult the annual credit report to make sure it is accurate and has no debts or unauthorized transactions.
— When using a direct payment terminal, an ATM or public telephone, make sure that nobody can see when you punch your personal identification number.
— Whenever possible, ask that your account requires a password.
— Choose passwords difficult to guess – not the maiden name of your mother. Memorize them and change them frequently. Do not write on a piece of paper in your wallet or any other easily accessible place.
— Check your credit card protection agreement if you are insure against fraud and if you have to repay the debts of the person who stole your identity.
— Be careful what you throw in the trash. Burn or shred documents containing your financial information, such as statements, credit card offers, receipts and insurance forms. Insist that businesses you deal with do the same.
What to do if someone stole your identity
— Notify the police immediately. Ask for a copy of the police report, you can use as proof of the theft to the organizations that you contact.
— Clean up the mess, but avoid companies that offer to “repair your credit.” They can usually do anything, and some even offer a solution fraud: a brand new credit file under a false identity.
— Write down all the things you do and the money you pay to restore your reputation and correct your credit report.
— Canceled your credit cards and have them replace.
— Check with your creditors if your name has been used to fraudulently alter or open accounts
— Do include in your credit report, your identity had been stolen. Check this report three months later to ensure there ‘s no further attempt to use your identity.
— Close your bank accounts and open others. Insist they are protected by passwords.
— Get new calling cards, and change your passwords or personal identification numbers.
— In the case of passport theft, Contact: http://travel.state.gov/passport/lost/lost_848.html
— Contact the post office if you feel that someone is diverting your mail.
— Notify companies that provide: phone service, cable, electricity or gas, if any person pretending to be you have try to fraudulently open new accounts.
— Get a new driver’s license. If you suspect that someone has used your SSN to get a job or that your SSN has been used in other ways equally fraudulent.
