How To Protect Yourself From Identity Theft With Your Purse
By Sintilia Miecevole, Mon Dec 26th
Identity theft is the fastest growing criminal activity in the20th Century, replacing illegal drug sales.
How BIG is this Problem?
Banks, companies and businesses that house serversstoring passwords or other sensitive information all report"break-ins"through Trojan viruses or other online hackingmethods - resulting in the loss of millions of pieces ofinformation. Instances of lost information are employees sellingit and other lax security measures resulting in thieves havingaccess to your identity.
Thieves Want
- Your Name - Date of Birth - Home Address - Phone Numbers -Social Security Number - Driver's License Number - Credit CardNumbers - CW2 Security Code (the number on the back of yourcredit card) - Your Credit Report - ATM Cards - TelephoneCalling Cards - Mortgage Details
Where Are They Getting Your Information?
- Banks - Credit-Reference Agencies - Retailers - Credit CardNetworks - Data-Brokerage Companies - Payment ProcessingCompanies - Phone Companies - Schools - Your Employer - Doctors,Clinics and Health Departments - Government Agencies
There are other effective methods:
- Dumpster Diving - Mail Theft - Retail Theft -"Phishing"/pretexting/pretending - Purse/Wallet Theft
What are Thieves Using Your Information For?
- Making charges to your existing credit cards - Opening newcredit cards in your name - Having phone or utilities turned on- Withdrawing money from your existing bank accounts -Employment purposes - Driver's Licenses - Tax Fraud - SocialService benefits - Student loans - Business or Personal loans -Health care - Mortgage loans/leases - Auto loans - Using your IDwhen caught committing a crime
How Can You Protect Yourself?
- Keep a photocopy of your credit cards, bank account numbersand investment account numbers in a safe place - Keep yourcredit card receipts - Put a "fraud alert" on all your creditreports - If you apply for credit and the card doesn't arrive ontime, call the card issuer - Choose difficult PIN numbers orpasswords.
