Don’t become a Victim of Identity Theft

Identity theft is the process of someone using another person’s name for financial gains or to avoid criminal charges. It can range from using your credit cards without authorization, taking money from your bank account, or giving another name when a crime is committed. Most of us don’t realize the trail of important information that we leave behind from our various transactions. We do it all the time even to pay for the pizza we had delivered. Have you ever stopped to think about how many people have access to that information before that check gets deposited?

All of the employees at your bank can access your account number as well. If your check falls into the hands of a person who wants to use your information along the way you can easily become a victim of identity theft. You can help prevent identity theft by being very careful. There are several scams out there to get you to provide the information they need. Do all you can to keep your information safe.

Make sure you conceal your personal information as much as possible. Try not to put your driver’s license number or social security number on anything, especially your checks. Instead give your phone number. They can use this information to contact you if there are any issues with your check.

Avoid giving your personal information over the phone. How do you know that the person at the end of the line isn’t going to use your information for their own agenda? It is a good idea to get a phone number and call the location back instead of giving them your information when they call.

Make sure you check out a website with the Better Business Bureau before you provide them with any financial details. It is very easy to make a website look original when it isn’t. This is a common ploy to steal another person’s identity.

One way you can protect your identity is  -

In The News...

Forbes - ID Tool ToGo Combines Convenience with Multifactor Authentication Superior to Tokens, Smartcards and Biometrics LOS GATOS, Calif., June 14 /PRNewswire/ -- TriCipher, the leading provider of multifactor authentication solutions that protect online ...

dBusinessNews.com - ... and confidence in individual identities provided by L-1 Identity Solutions, government entities, law enforcement and border management agencies, and commercial enterprises can better guard the public against global terrorism, crime and identity theft ...

Ledger - KISSIMMEE - Good Samaritan Village has kicked off its inaugural series of education programs for seniors with a seminar on identity theft and fraud - two crimes that often target the elderly. "Older people are very trusting," Carlos Morales, guest ...

News-Democrat - A day after a stolen identity scheme was publicly announced, the governor's and attorney general's offices exchanged blame about an attempt to arrest a former state employee at a state office. A federal indictment handed down May 31 - but not ...

Forbes - A federal indictment accuses seven people - including two former state employees - of using the identities of nursing-home residents and others in a scheme to help prison inmates make phone calls. The seven are accused of using Social Security ...