Jeff Kiser asked:




Identity theft prevention services do not exactly prevent identity theft. They simply make it much harder for thieves to use the personal information they have stolen, thereby protecting you against many of the techniques identity thieves use.

We give away personal information all the time. Any time you write a check at the store, charge airline tickets, rent a car, mail your tax returns, change cell phone service providers, or apply for a credit card you are giving away bits of personal information, such as your bank and credit card account numbers, your Social Security number and your name, address, and phone number. These bits and pieces are a treasure trove to an identity thief. Once thieves have this information, they can use it without your knowledge to commit fraud or theft.

For example, identity thieves can take your personal information to redirect your financial data, such as bank and credit card statements, to prevent you from noticing that your existing credit card or bank account is being used without your knowledge. Identity theft prevention services prevent this from happening. This doesn’t mean, of course, that a thief couldn’t have charged things on a stolen credit card, only that you would know about it sooner…assuming you check your monthly statements.

Protection services also prevent new accounts from being set up by identity thieves in your name. This protection is important because the only way you would know this had happened was when you began to be harassed by collection agencies or when you try to get credit, only to find your credit rating has been trashed.

Identity theft prevention services also help you should the thieves be successful, in that they will help you with the police regarding warrants as well as assist you with getting collection agencies to stop harassing you for debts that aren’t yours.

If you think that you don’t need these services because, after all, if you report your credit cards stolen, you won’t get charged for the bogus charges, think again. Identity thieves don’t just use credit cards. They can set up new cell phone accounts in your name. They can take out a car loan in your name. They can give your name should they be arrested then, when they don’t show up at court, a warrant is issued in your name!

Identity theft prevention services are inexpensive…generally around $100 a year per individual or $150 for households. If you aren’t a careful type, guarding your personal information, reading your statements carefully and noticing if they don’t arrive, shredding mail with identifying information, then an identity theft prevention service might be right for you.

Andrew

Jeff McRitchie asked:


These days, there is no bigger threat to your financial security than identity theft. It is alarming how many ways those who would seek to defraud you are finding to get at your sensitive information. Here are a few ways you can help prevent identity theft from ever happening.

Get A Paper Shredder: This is the easiest way of all to protect your sensitive information. In fact, it is almost unthinkable that you would still be merely throwing away or recycling anything that has your personal information on it. It should go without saying that all of your credit card and bank statements, if they are not filed, should be destroyed by a shredding, by you, on site. One item that also needs to be destroyed, that might go unnoticed, however, is credit card applications. They can often fall into the wrong hands and be used by someone else to obtain credit in your name. To the shredder with them! Protect your PIN: Whenever you use an ATM or a debit card at a grocery store, it wouldn’t hurt to take a quick look over your shoulder to make sure that no one is watching you key in your secret code number. There is no end to the damage a criminal can do armed only with your name and PIN. Keep The Check Out Of The Mail: If at all possible, have checks you have coming in directly deposited to your bank account. Conversely, if you still use personal checks to pay your bills, take them to the post office, or put them in a US mail box yourself. Identity thieves love to watch for people to put out their mail and then steal it before the mail person arrives to pick it up. Check Your Monthly Statements: Often, identity thieves will make purchases with your accounts that are so small you may not notice them right away. Look at your statement closely for anything you may not have purchased. If you notice anything that you don’t recognize investigate it further. Don’t be afraid to call your bank or the credit card company and ask questions about a specific transaction. Carry The Bare Minimum With You: You should have your social security number memorized, and if you don’t, do it now. There is no reason to keep the card in your wallet, and the same rule applies to any credit cards you don’t use. If your wallet or purse is stolen you don’t want the thieves to have your SSN or access to a huge number of credit cards. Get To Know FACTA: In 2005, the government put in place regulations that require businesses to destroy any sensitive information derived from their clients or customers before throwing it away. Known as the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, it was put in place to help ensure that identity thieves-or anyone else for that matter– can’t get their hands on any of your confidential information. Though it is likely that the people you do business with are in compliance with the law, is doesn’t hurt to ask. Just as you should have a shredder, those whom you do business with should too.

Again, the easiest way to make sure that your most sensitive information doesn’t fall into the wrong hands is to destroy it. If everyone used a shredder, it is safe to say that identity theft would happen a lot less often. Follow these six simple steps and help protect yourself from identity theft today.



James

Chad Kiser asked:


With the continue growth of the Internet as a marketplace for buying and selling merchandise, conducting banking and credit card transactions and more, a nefarious underworld has popped up in the form of identity thieves. Since the problem has grown to such a problem that government agencies cannot effectively protect us, private industry has stepped in. Identity Theft Prevention Programs offer consumers piece of mind by monitoring your credit report and stopping identity theft in its tracks.

In the course of our daily commerce, we unwittingly give out much of our sensitive personal data. We write checks for bill paying, we rent a hotel room using a credit card, we apply for jobs and list our social security number, we use our cell phones to call friends and generally we act as if no one has access to these avenues of communication. Each time we communicate with others, we put ourselves at risk. Not protecting your personal information is like leaving the front door open and putting up a sign welcoming thieves inside to take what they want.

Thieves will use your credit card number to charge merchandise and you will not know about it until you have a great many charges rung up. Thieves will use your social security number to take out a car loan and then make off with the car. You won’t know about this until the loan payment statements start arriving in your mailbox. All of this creates major headaches for you unless you have an identity theft prevention service in place. These thefts may still occur but you will be notified about them much earlier thus keeping the damage to a minimum. Diligence in checking your monthly statements is still needed though. Some identity theft prevention services are set up to call you when any suspicious activity occurs in your accounts, be it large purchases or purchases made from a different location from your home area.

These services will prevent collection agencies from calling you repeatedly and will keep your credit rating at the level where it is supposed to be. Law enforcement agencies are helped greatly by these services because they are more easily able to zero in on the thieves before the trail grows cold.

Identity thieves have been known to purchase cell phone service with stolen information and ring up thousands of dollars in calls. They have also given stolen information when arrested for a crime and then not show up in court. The authorities then issue an arrest warrant for you.

The pricetag for identity theft services range from $100 to $150 depending on the coverage criteria. Many people are so busy, careless or just plain stuplid that they inappropriatly handle their sensitive data. Besides safeguarding your own information, these identity theft prevention agencies are the best way to guard against theft.



Gladys