Identity Theft Protection

Identity theft protection is rather easy, especially if you make sure to keep track of all your personal information. While identity theft can become a major problem if it happens, if you follow these simple tips you can ensure your identity theft protection. Just be safe, think about what you are doing and you should have no problem staving away from people trying to get your social security number and other information.

Never Share Personal Information

It's rare for someone on the street to come up and ask you for your social security number, but there are often scammers that make emails that ask for it. They make a professional looking email that mimics the exact look of a bank or insurance company’s email, and they use a convincing looking website that asks for your social security number, account number or other similar information.

There are two things you can do to stop this. First, institutions do not ask for this information over email. However, if you really think that the bank needs your birthday or address, call the bank up (or whatever institution sent the email). Representatives can confirm or deny the email, which can definitely help with identity theft protection.

Suspicious Companies

Sometimes the above also happens in person. This usually occurs to investors, but it can happen to other people. Someone will approach you with a legitimate looking business offer. They may take you out to lunch, show you professional looking business cards and will supply you with real websites that make this person look like he or she is representing a real business.

After enough convincing, this person will ask for some personal information, perhaps to verify an investment or to further the business plan with you. However, once you provide the information, the person disappears.

You can get identity theft protection here by checking out the business details. Call the numbers, send emails and check the address. If none of these check out, then look at everything with a grain of salt.

Monitor Credit Card Statements

You may have accidentally given out your information already, or perhaps a hacker stole it from your computer. Regardless, the thief is using your credit card or is taking out credit cards in your name. To ensure your identity theft protection, constantly check your credit card statements and any credit reports you get. These will inform you of any weird spending.

Shred All Documents

You may not know it, but often your sensitive, personal information is added to your mail. Some regular looking letters, especially if they are from the government, many have your social security number printed right on them. To keep yourself from having your identity stolen, be sure you invest in a paper shredder. Most cheap models will be enough for home users.

Verify Mailing Address

Has it been awhile since you got your last credit card statement in the mail? Sometimes, when people steal your credit card numbers, they also change your mailing address so the letters never reach you. Due to this, you may not know that someone else is constantly using your credit card.

Call the Post Office, bank and any other institutions that often mail you and verify your address. You want to get these letters, so be sure they are going to the right house. Another way of doing this is by getting email alerts.

Fraud Alerts and Freezes

You can ask your credit card company to delay any new purchase or freeze the entire account. With alerts, the person ringing up your credit card will have to take further steps to verify your identity, such as through a phone conversation with the card issuer.

Freezes keep the card from being used at all, especially if the card is being used at unusual stores or businesses. Freezes are better after the card is stolen, because it takes about three days for the freeze to go away, and it costs money to freeze and unfreeze the card.

Identity Theft Insurance

You can also choose identity theft insurance to protection you against this. Most policies do not protect directly against the theft, but they help cover charges associated with getting your credit back on track. This can include copying, legal fees, lost wages and faxing charges.

Conclusion

Identity theft protection is rather simple, and you should always practice it. You just have to think about how you are using your information, and ensuring it never falls into the wrong hands. Even if someone steals the information, there are things you can do to ensure the damage is minimized.