When Terrible Things Happen In and To Your Good Name Because of ID Theft:

Identity theft is the crime of our times, a crime so widespread, with an impact so great, it destroys lives. More than 18 million people were victims in 2011 alone, for a total loss of over $513 billion dollars.
What Is Identity Theft?
The Federal Trade Commission defines identity theft as stealing personal information such as your name, credit card number, drivers license number, or other personal identifying information to commit fraud. The most common identity thefts occur when thieves use your name to:

• apply for telephone service
• apply for credit cards or loans
• buy merchandise
• lease cars or apartments
• obtain medical care
• assume your complete identity and live and work under your name, or
• commit crimes.
  

Why Is Identity Theft Rising So Quickly?
Identity theft is so widespread because it's so easy. Unfortunately, many of us are not taking precautions to decrease our risk.
How Can I Prevent Being a Victim of Identity Theft?
Take the following steps to prevent being a victim of identity theft:

• Review your credit card statements monthly. Call your credit card company and question any items you don't recognize, or purchases that you did not authorize.
  
• If you don't receive your credit card statement at the usual time, call your credit card company immediately. Someone could have stolen your account and changed the billing address so you wouldn't see any of the the unauthorized charges.
  
• Don't throw credit card slips, statements, and other documents containing personal information in the trash. Shred them and/or burn them, it is difficult if not impossible for anyone to get information from ashes, especially ashed that have bits of melted plastic in them.
  
• Don't throw credit card offers in the trash without shredding them, or burning them.
  
• Obtain copies of your credit report from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus yearly. Go through them with a fine tooth comb and question any accounts you see that don't appear to be yours.
  
• Use direct deposit to have checks you receive regularly deposited directly to your bank account.
  
• Reduce the number of pre-approved credit card offers you receive by calling 888-5OPT OUT (888-567-8688) to request that credit reporting bureaus not sell or share your personal information.
  
• Guard your social security number. This is your identity, with the SSN a person can apply for innumerable services.
  
• Never give out personal information over the phone unless you initiated the call. This also includes individuals who purport to be a representative of the government.
  
• Avoid using ATMs at convenience stores, airports, malls, and kiosks. Bank ATMs generally have better security.
  
• Don't use PIN numbers that are too easy to guess, like birth dates or the last four digits of your phone number.
  
• Don't carry your social security card around with you.
  
• Don't fall for "phishing" scams, where thieves send you email that looks like it's from a legitimate organization such as a bank or other organization you do business with, asking you to verify personal information. Don't click on the link provided in the email. You'll be routed to a fake site that looks legitimate, but is just a ploy to obtain your personal information.
  
• Don't store personal information on your computer, which is vulnerable to hackers. Use a disk or CD.
  
• When shopping online, make sure the locked padlock icon appears at the bottom of your browser window when you're on the ordering page. The site URL in the location bar of your browser should also change from "http" to "https" when you're on the ordering page, indicating that it's a secure site.
  
• When ordering online, don't click the box asking if you want to save your credit card information for easy ordering on your next visit. It's safer not to have this information stored on the seller's computers.
  
• Use virus protection (like Norton Anti-virus or McAffee) and security software (like Norton Internet Security or the free program Zone Alarm) to make it harder for thieves to hack into your computer. Update your virus definitions often (at least weekly).
  
• Educate yourself about the scams that are currently circulating by checking the Scam Alert page of the ID Theft Center [http://www.idtheftcenter.org/alerts.shtml] Web site.
  

What Should You Do If I Think You Are a Victim of Identity Theft?
You may discover you're a victim when you apply for a loan and your credit check reveals overdue payments on dozens of credit cards in your name that you didn't even know existed. It can take years and thousands of dollars to clear your good name. In the meantime, your credit history can be destroyed; you could be denied for mortgages, other loans, insurance and jobs; and you could lose your retirement savings.
If you think you're a victim of identity theft:

• Report the identity theft to your bank.
• Report the identity theft to each of your credit card companies and cancel all credit cards. Ask for new cards to be issued.
• File a report with your local police.
• Call the Federal Trade Commission at 877-438-4338 to report the crime.
• Contact one of the three major credit reporting bureaus (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion) and reqeust that a fraud alert be placed on all your accounts. They're required to share this information with the other bureaus.
• Vist the Identity Theft Resource Center Web site at www.idtheftcenter.org for information and assistance in how to go about clearing your name.
  

How To Determine Your Risk For Being An Identity Theft Victim:

Answer the following questions and keep track of your points. Then find your score in the Scoring section at the end of the test to determine your risk level for identity theft.

• I regularly receive pre-approved credit card offers in the mail. (add 1 point)
  
• I shred all credit card offers I receive in the mail. (deduct 2 points)
  
• I always shred my credit card statements and other documents with personal identifying information before putting them in the trash. (deduct 2 points)
  
• I carry my Social Security card in my wallet or purse. (add 4 points)
  
• I carry my insurance ID card or other ID card containing my Social Security number in my wallet or purse, or in my car. (add 2 points).
  
• I receive my mail in an unlocked mailbox. (add 2 points)
  
• I mail my bills and other personal documents by placing them in an unlocked mailbox. (add 2 points)
  
• I use my ATM card at non-bank ATMs such as those at convenience stores, airports, or shopping mall kiosks. (add 1 point)
  
• I shop online and don't verify that the sites are secure. (add 2 points)
  
• I use obvious PIN numbers, like birth-dates or phone numbers, on my ATM cards. (add 1 point)
  
• I'm a college student and my grades are publicly posted by Social Security number. (add 2 points)
  
• My Social Security number is printed on my time cards at work. (add 1 point)
  
• My employer does not keep employee files locked at all times. (add 2 points)
  
• My Social Security number or Drivers License number is printed on my checks. (add 2 points)
  
• My Drivers License number is the same as my Social Security number. (add 2 points)
  
• When people ask for my Social Security number, I provide it. (add 2 points)
  
• My credit card company sends me convenience checks in the mail. (add 2 points)
  
• I shred credit card company convenience checks or keep them locked up. (deduct 1 point)
  
• The last time I ordered a copy of my credit reports from all three credit reporting bureaus was 2 years ago or longer. (add 2 points)
  
• I am skeptical of telemarketing phone calls or emails and do not provide personal information or click on links in marketing emails. (deduct 1 point)
  
• I do not use anti-virus software on my computer. (add 2 points)
  
• I do not use firewall software (like Zone Alarm or Norton Internet Security) on my computer, even though I use the Internet. (add 2 points)
  
• When I get rid of my used computers, I completely erase the hard drive with a "scrubbing" program like Sure Delete (for PCs) or CodeTek (for Macs). (deduct 1 point)
  
• I store personal financial information or passwords on my computer. (add 1 point)
  
• I reconcile my bank statement every month. (deduct 1 point)
  
• I carefully review my credit card statement every month and investigate any charges I don't recognize. (deduct 1 point)
  
• I store personal information on my PDA. (add 1 point)
  

SCORING:
More than 26 points – OMG!!! Off The Charts! - You may already be a victim of identity theft and not even know it. Quickly do a Re-Assessment!
20-26 points — Very High Risk - You're either unaware of the way identity thieves work or you think it won't happen to you. You're identity theft waiting to happen.
14-19 points — High Risk - You're aware of some of the risks of identity theft and have taken a few basic precautions but are wide open to less obvious methods of identity theft. You've got some work to do.
8-13 points - Medium Risk - You've covered the basics pretty well but could tighten up in a few of the less obvious areas. You're getting there!
Less than 8 points - Low Risk - You're well aware of the risks of the various types of identity theft and you take them seriously by taking steps to protect yourself in a wide variety of vulnerable areas. Good work!



Remember: Knowing the Danger beforehand will give you insight into ways to avoid it. -Birdy