Internet Identity Fraud Identity Theft Prevent Credit Card
This insures that your liability is minimal if you should become a victim of identity theft. Type the URL in your browser window and log in. Most offer free identity theft protection; some charge a small annual fee. How You Can Protect Yourself You can hardly read a publication or listen to the news these days without hearing something about the rise in identity fraud. The average dollar loss per victim doubled over that of the year 2005. One of the most important steps you can take to reduce your chances of becoming a victim of the rising tide of identity fraud. Instead, keep it in a safe location at home.Identity Fraud: How It Happens. By following these simple guidelines and making yourself aware of the many scams being used, you can help keep yourself from becoming one of the growing number of victims of identity fraud. Often the first time victims become aware of these new accounts is when they get collection notices, often for thousands upon thousands of dollars. . If you receive an e-mail from a company with whom you do business, do not respond using any links embedded in the message. Identity fraud used to establish new accounts could take months to surface. Then send the suspected email to the company. Buy a shredder at a local office supply company; they are not very expensive. Report any discrepancies immediately. It's worth a trip to the post office or UPS store to insure that your checks go to the right place and are not intercepted by thieves. Big companies like eBay and Paypal actively pursue these scam artists. 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. Finally, always make sure you know what your identity theft protection is with your credit card companies and bank. Never give your social security number to anyone unless it
