Identity Theft Protection

Identity theft is a huge problem, in fact its the fastest growing crime in the world but the thing about identity theft is that people tend to fall into 2 categories when it comes to ways to prevent identity theft. The 1st is the person who worries way too much and ends up wasting money on one of the many start up companies that have appeared and use TV ads to pray on that persons worry. The 2nd person is the one who knows all about the problem but doesn’t bother finding any ways to prevent identity theft because “it’ll never happen to me.”

What you need to do is find some middle ground when looking for ways to prevent identity theft. Yes identity theft is a real danger but so is leaving your mobile phone on the bar while you go to the wash room. Of course if you take your phone with you it cannot be stolen can it and even if you don’t take it, you have increased the chances of it being stolen but that doesn’t mean it will be. Maybe the bar man spots you have left it and keeps an eye on it for you or it could be that everyone in the bar happens to be a decent person!

Here are a few simple ways to prevent identity theft.

One of the simplest but most effective ways to prevent identity theft is to destroy all personal papers and documents rather than putting them in the garbage. People don’t need to steal your identity if you are going to give it to them do they? A quick rummage through someone’s trash can reveal bank statements, credit card details, birth dates, ages, full names etc etc. Don’t make it easy for them. Buy yourself a $20 paper shredder and get into the habit of using it.

Only carry one piece of plastic at a time in your wallet or purse and leave the rest at home somewhere safe and secure is another good habit to get into if you are serious about ways to prevent identity theft. Don’t carry 3 or 4 credit cards, your social security card, drivers licence, check guarantee card, library card, video rental card and whatever else you have in there. should your wallet or purse be stolen or lost, how are you going to remember everything that needs cancelling? Even if you do remember, the more there are, the more chance something will go wrong and one will slip through the net during the cancellation process.

Don’t part with information unless you are 100% certain you know who you are talking to and even then be on your guard for any strange requests and don’t be afraid to refuse if you have the slightest doubt. Most of us know about the fake emails from banks requesting you log in or re-enter your details etc. But because we all know they need to try other methods and many are moving to the telephone so just be careful. If your bank, doctors office etc. phones and requests any info, tell them you will ring back and then get the number from the book, not from the person on the phone.

These are some of the many ways to prevent identity theft from happening to you without having to spend $10 a month for the rest of your life. For many more click on Identity Theft Protection.

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