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Identity theft occurs when someone obtains enough personal information about you to pose as you when they apply for credit or obtain valuable documents, such as a birth certificate, driver's license, or passport. The personal information in which they are interested is social security number, date of birth or actual birth certificate, current and previous addresses, mother maiden name, bank account and credit card numbers, and phone numbers. There is no way to keep all of this private - every check you write carries your bank account number, and each time you use a credit card, the vendor learns its number. However, the danger increases as a single person learns more of this critical information.
An unscrupulous person can find what he needs in several ways. He can steal it from an employer, a creditor, or a credit rating agency. She can contact you by telephone or e-mail, posing as a person or organization with whom you do business. He can search your cell phone, computer, car, purse, mail, garbage, or wallet. She can do an Internet search.Some signs that your identity may have been stolen are: some or all of your mail (especially credit card bills) is missing, you receive inquiries about credit accounts you didn't open, existing accounts have unexpected charges, or you are denied credit because of a suddenly poor credit rating.
What you can do
You can do much to prevent identity theft.
Periodically check you credit reports with the three major agencies, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Once a year is probably adequate.
Periodically do a Google search on your name to see what information about you is public.
Shred all paper documents that contain sensitive information before you place them in the garbage. Inexpensive paper shredders are available at office supply stores.
Cut up old credit cards, drivers licenses, etc, and any unused credit cards before you dispose of them.
Choose PINs with care (e.g., don't use your birthday, address, or phone number) and change them periodically. Don't write them down, especially on the card you use them with.
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Don't store critical information on your PDA or computer (especially if it's a laptop) unless you encrypt it. Encryption software for computers is available from www.pgpi.org/ for a free command-line version or from www.pgp.com/ for a commercial ($99) GUI version.
Don't place any sensitive information in e-mail, unless you encrypt it. You can use the software mentioned above for this.
Perform a hard reset of your PDA before you dispose of it. If this isn't possible, physically destroy it.
When you dispose of a PC, either wipe the hard drive or remove and destroy it. Free disk wiping software is available from www.heidi.ie/eraser.
When you dispose of data diskettes, CD-ROMs, or DVDs, first cut or break them up.
No legitimate business or agency will ask you for personal or financial information by e-mail or phone. Don't respond to such inquiries.
Always use a firewall when your PC is connected to the Internet.
Keep your software up to date, especially MS Windows and Office and anti-virus programs. Act quickly to thwart the theft. If you find that your identity has been stolen, you must act quickly.
Report the theft to all your creditors and financial institutions.
Report the theft to the police.
Check with the Post Office to see if your mail has been rerouted.
Contact a lawyer.It will probably take several years to resolve the situation. It's much easier to prevent identity theft than to correct it.
Contact one of the three major credit agencies and report the theft. Ask that your file be marked with a "fraud alert" for the maximum period of seven years. Ask them for your credit report.
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