There are many people online who ask this question. Their response is:  “you can just protect your own identity.”

You are knowledgeable enough to know that you can find all the information needed to be sure that your social security number is as secure as possible, and you will be alerted if any suspicious activity is reported in connection with your social security number. Only, you are the only one who knows whether you applied for that new line of credit or that department store credit card. You are the only one who can determine if it is “suspicious” or “fraudulent” activity, because to the average credit reporting agency, it’s all initiated by you!

Now let’s say that someone has opened a new credit card in your name using their address, so you didn’t get the acknowledgment letter or the first, second, third, etc. bills. How can you be sure that you will prevent this account from being your responsibility if you never reported the theft or called the company to let them know that it wasn’t you? The answer is that you can’t do that if you are not alerted to the new account in the first place.

This is why you pay to protect your identity! Is it not worth it to protect yourself, for the price of a few cups of coffee and a hamburger? Those aren’t good for your physical health, so why do you buy them? It is because you want them. Even though you may not want to pay to protect your identity, it is well worth the financial awareness that it brings when you receive monthly updates on your financial status. Wouldn’t it be nice to know that someone is doing that for you and that you are being protected? It is also a nice reminder that you need to keep on top of checking your credit reports and be sure that they are a true picture of your financial life right now. Keep your financial health strong!

It was announced on September 29th that the Mayor of New York is putting into place a “comprehensive plan to help prevent fraud and identity theft”. This is to help the public become more aware of this problem and be more careful about handling and protecting their personal information.

Almost 12,000 New Yorkers are reported to have been victims of identity theft last year. This is a fast growing crime and makes many feel that there is nothing that they can do about it. This is a motivating reason for the city to do what is possible to combat the number of people who will be affected by this crime. (more…)

We recently posted an article about leaving your purse in your car and how one woman became a victim when her purse was stolen. This leads into another national headline about Federal Chairman, Ben Bernanke. Blogs and news sites everywhere have picked up on this identity theft story, which has caught the attention of many viewers.
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Identity theft stories are everywhere. By reading one that could happen to you, it might help you to see the importance of being proactive in protecting personal documents and information. The following scenario is based on a story that was submitted by an anonymous author:
A woman went out with friends to a night club and didn’t want to be weighed down with carrying a purse, so she decided to leave it in the car of the friend she rode with. Upon leaving the club, (more…)

As a way to fight the crime of medical identity theft, some doctors and hospitals are starting to ask for ID when patients check in to receive medical care. This is a protection for patients. Because the Federal Trade Commission has recently released what are called “Red Flags” rules to combat identity theft, some changes are being made by, not only the medical field, but banks and other institutions as well. These changes are required to be put in place by November 1, 2009 by the FTC, so the next time you go to the doctor or the hospital, you might be required to provide your ID at check in. Patients should not consider this an aggravation, but rather a protection of their medical file and their credit. (more…)

Yes, it is a time in your life where you are so excited and there is so much to do – the bride has to pick out her bridesmaids, her gown and what she wants on the wedding registry, to name a few things. Then there is the reception to plan and, of course, the honeymoon. When two lives come together to form a new family and excitement is in the air, the last thing one worries about is whether or not there identity might be stolen during their wedding planning process. So if you are getting married soon, be careful to follow some tips given be an website we found.
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Have you ever stopped to think that even celebrities are victims of identity theft? Hard to imagine, isn’t it? They are popular, we know what they look and sound like, and yet it can still happen to them! We’re not talking about walking in a retail store with a credit card that says “Paris Hilton” on it and trying to make a purchase. However, cyber criminals steal money from the rich & famous. (more…)

There was a movie made for television a few years ago called: “Identity Theft: The Michelle Brown Story”. The story of this then 29 year old woman made enough of an  impact to make her story known to the public. Michelle was able to testify before a U.S. Senate Committee back in the year 2000. Her testimony provides much insight into what happened to her.
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If you have read prior posts on this website, then your answer might be different than if you were to just read this question for the first time. “How safe are you from identity theft” poses some questions for thought:

-Do you just throw away documents that contain your personal information, rather than shredding or burning them?

-When you travel, do you allow your mail to be delivered and sit in your mailbox while you are gone?

-When you are at home, is your mail delivered to an accessible mailbox that any passer by can take from?

-Is your name still on the lists of pre-approved credit companies?

-Do you send mail from your unlocked mailbox? (more…)

Have you ever read a story or watched a movie and said to yourself: “I’m glad this didn’t happen to me.” You may not realize it, but with identity theft, it could have happened to you and you not even realize it yet! Yes, the damage done to your credit will eventually come to light, but when will you realize it. Will it be when you go to apply for a loan? Will it be when you apply for a credit card? Will it be when you go to withdraw money from your bank account and it is overdrawn? Will it be when you are being pursued for non-payment on an account that you never opened? (more…)