Identity Theft - Has Your Confidential Information Been Swiped?

Aug 17th Identity Theft – Has Your Confidential Information Been Swiped?

Did you know nearly fifteen million consumers in the U.S. were victims of identity theft according to an 2018 online survey by The Harris Poll? Those are scary statistics, don’t you think?

First what is identity theft? Most of us know,but for grins and giggles here is the definition. When someone takes another person’s personal identifying information, ie. name, identifying number, or credit card number, and uses it without permission, to commit fraud or other crimes

So what can you do to safe guard your personal and confidential information? Services are available to help you discover if any of your information has found its way to the dark web or into the hands of unscrupulous individuals. Shred any documents with your name, address, partial social security or birth date. Again there are companies that will provide that service at a cost. A home shredder is also a good idea. There are various types, so do your home work. Obviously, the smaller cut the better.

Important confidential papers should be kept in a fireproof safe or safe deposit box.

According to experts, early detection is imperative to fight identity theft. Keep these seven warning signs in mind:

Dumped garbage cans: Maybe be a raccoon going through the garbage, but, dumpster divers also steal personal information this way. Never put anything that contains your name, address and other confidential data into the garbage. Documents should be securely shredded when no longer needed.
Small ‘test’ charges on your credit card: Credit card fraud is the most common form of identity theft, according to the Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Sentinel Network Report. Hackers will often place a small charge for a couple of dollars on a card to see if it will go through before they attempt a larger fraud later. Always review credit card statements. If there is a small unrecognized charge, don’t ignore it. Talk to your credit card issuer.
Missing mail: Thieves will check mailboxes for correspondence containing name, address, and other confidential information, and they will use change of address forms to reroute bills and credit card statements, for example, to another address. Make sure all statements are being mailed to the correct address. Install a lockable mailbox or a slot that directs mail into your house. Switch to paperless billing. Shred documents containing personal information before throwing them in the trash.
Debt collector contact: Calls about debts that aren’t yours are often the first sign of identity theft. It means accounts have been opened without your knowledge. Tell the collection agency that the debt isn’t yours and to stop contacting you. Place a fraud alert or security freeze on your credit report to prevent future unauthorized accounts.
Credit denial: If you are unexpectedly denied for a credit card, loan, or other service, a fraudulent account may be the issue. Review credit reports regularly. If a problem occurs, start a credit report dispute process, and call the company that reported the account to let them know about the fraud.
Unexpected bills: If you start receiving bills or notices of overdue payments for items or services you didn’t purchase, you may be a victim of identity theft. Contact the creditor and inform them that you have been a victim of identity theft. File a police report.
Medical claim rejection: A thief using your medical insurance may have reached the benefits limit. Always safeguard your medical insurance card, and do not share it with anyone. Treat medical bills, insurance statements as you would other sensitive information – and securely shred them before disposal.

Most credit card issuers provide zero fraud liability, a study by the Identity Theft Resource Center showed that as a result of identity theft, 26% of respondents had to borrow money from family or friends, 22% took time off work, and 15.3% of respondents sold possessions to pay for expenses. Don’t let this happen to you.

One final tip and you’ve probably heard this a million times but it bears repeating. Change your passwords on all on-line accounts regularly. It can be a pain, and inconvenient to keep track of all those different passwords, but the alternative is much worse.