With the ever-increasing advancements
in technology, it has become easier than ever for thieves
to steal someone’s identity. By getting a credit
card, social security or driver’s license number,
a person can create a full set of false documents and
use them to purchase anything from a watch to a home.
The victim usually ends up with a ruined credit rating
and horrible financial obligations that may take years
to clear up. While this sounds scary, there are several
easy steps you can take to prevent potential identity
theft from happening to you:
•
Keep your personal
information secure. Never give out personal information
on unsolicited phone calls or unsecured Web sites.
Never click on unsolicited e-mails.
•
Check your credit report
once a year, and check your accounts to make sure
everything is correct. If you have accounts on your
report that are unknown, you can file a dispute
with the bureaus to get them removed.
•
Check your credit card
statements every month. If there are any unfamiliar
charges on the account, contact the card company
for more information. If you believe your information
has been stolen, contact each of the three credit
bureaus and put a fraud watch on your reports. This
will make it much more difficult for a fraudulent
person to get cards in your name.
