exisNexis, a provider of theft cases have resulted from
personal and financial online fraud. Dumpster diving
data, recently reported along with phone scams account
that the personal information of for far more ID theft than the
as many as 310,000 people internet.
nationwide may have been stolen.
This figure is nearly 10 times In fact you can use the internet
higher than the original figure to help protect yourself from
disclosed last month by the this crime in three unique ways:
company.
1) View your banking and credit
ChoicePoint Inc., another accounts online.
consumer data collection service,
stated 145,000 people in their Almost all banks and credit card
database were possibly exposed to companies have secure web sites
identity thieves earlier this that allow you to view your
year. At DSW Shoe Warehouse, statements and activity safely
officials acknowledged stolen online. Secure sites are those
credit information at 103 of its that begin with https// or
175 stores nationwide. Hackers display a padlock icon on your
have also targeted databases at computer screen.
California State University as
well as the University of NEVER access a financial site
California, San Diego. through a link embedded in an
e-mail message. E-mails with
Many consumers now fear that links asking you to verify or
using the internet puts them at a re-register your personal
higher risk of identity theft. information are a sure sign of
However, surveys have shown that "phishing", a scam to collect
only 10 percent of known identity your name and other identifying
information to steal your Experian.
identity.
New legislation allows you to
Instead, type the bank or obtain your credit report
creditor's website address into annually from all three of these
your browser. Check your accounts agencies for free. This new
every two weeks. Verify that the program is being phased in
credits and debits shown on the gradually across the U.S.. Check
statements are valid. Report any suspicious activity immediately href="http://www.annualcreditrepo
to your bank or creditor. rt.com"
title="http://www.annualcreditrep
2) Monitor your credit report. ort.com"
target="_blank">www.annualcreditr
The main reason for stealing your eport.com to see when your
identity is to open new credit state becomes active in this
accounts to purchase good and program.
services using your name and
stolen identity. Chances are 3) Use credit monitoring
that you won't know you're an ID services.
theft victim until you're denied
credit or you receive bills for A variety of paid services are
accounts you never opened. available that will monitor your
credit reports for activity and
If an ID thief has opened alert you to any changes. As
accounts in your name, they are with any product or service, make
most likely to appear on your sure you understand what you're
credit report. There are three getting before you buy. You can
major credit reporting agencies; enjoy a free 30-day trial of
Equifax, TransUnion, and CreditCheck"® monitoring service
and get a free copy of your Here are some other helpful
Experian credit report by identity theft related sites:
visiting href="http://www.yourfreecreditre portnow.com" href="http://www.consumer.gov/idt
title="http://www.yourfreecreditr heft/"
eportnow.com" title="http://www.consumer.gov/id
target="_blank">http://www.yourfr theft/"
eecreditreportnow.com. This target="_blank">http://www.consum
monitoring service checks your er.gov/idtheft/ (US
credit report daily to notify you government ID theft website)
about fraudulent activity, new inquiries, new accounts, late href="http://www.privacyrights.or
payments, and more so you can g/identity.htm"
spot possible signs of identity title="http://www.privacyrights.o
theft. After the free 30-day rg/identity.htm"
trial, you will be billed $9.95 target="_blank">http://www.privac
monthly unless you cancel the yrights.org/identity.htm (ID
service. theft resources)
If you become a victim of ID href="http://www.identitytheft.or
theft, your opportunity for g/"
loans, jobs, or even housing title="http://www.identitytheft.o
could be affected. Taking rg/"
immediate action after being target="_blank">http://www.identi
victimized can minimize the tytheft.org/ (ID theft
damage. prevention and survival)
About the Author:
"© 2005, http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com
Author: James H. Dimmitt
James is editor of "To Your Credit" a FREE weekly newsletter focusing on managing your personal finances and credit. Subscribe and get a FREE copy of your credit report when you visit: http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com
Source: www.isnare.com
