Identity Fraud In Banking
This insures that your liability is minimal if you should become a victim of identity theft. There are steps you can take is to guard your Social Security Number, the universal doorway to all of your information. If you're not home to pick up your mail as soon as it is delivered, considering putting a lock on your mailbox or installing a letter slot. Do your banking online instead of writing checks. Instead, keep it in a safe location at home. Never give your social security number to anyone unless it is for a transaction at your request and you trust the institution requesting the information. As hard as it is to believe, thousands of people fall for this every year, only to have their life savings stolen and whisked to an offshore account with no hope of ever recovering it. Buy a shredder at a local office supply company; they are not very expensive. A recent study by a prominent research firm recently announced that there were over 15 million American victims of identity fraud in the past year. Often the first time victims become aware of these new accounts is when they get collection notices, often for thousands upon thousands of dollars. Another safeguard is to go paperless. Of the two, the use of existing accounts is usually detected much earlier, often by the credit card company noticing a change in spending habits and contacting the victim, or upon receipt of the first bill with fraudulant charges, and is easier to clear up. Type the URL in your browser window and log in. NEVER leave mail for pickup in your mailbox and try to avoid drive by mail boxes. Take advantage of the free yearly credit report offered by the big three credit reporting agencies; Experian, Equifax and Trans Union. Do not carry your Social Security card in your wallet. Identity fraud used to establish new accounts could take months to surface. . By following these simple guidelines and making yourself aware of the many scams being used, you can help keep yourself from
