| Most people think of credit card theft when they think | | | | These days it is common for crooks to commit crimes |
| of identity theft. There are actually 5 different kinds of | | | | under false identity. When they get caught they |
| identity theft even more severe then credit card theft: | | | | already have their false identification documents in |
| CREDIT CARD THEFT: | | | | place so the crime goes under your name. Imagine |
| If you give your card at a restaurant or any place | | | | getting pulled into the police station and being |
| where the card is out of your sight, then you run the | | | | interrogated for crimes you did not commit. Most |
| risk of identity theft. Waiters have been known to get | | | | people find it a shocking experience. Try at that time to |
| credit card details and sell it to someone else so it | | | | explain it is not you but somebody else. Get a lawyer |
| cannot be traced back to them. Next time you are in a | | | | or a service that can help with identity restoration. |
| situation where your credit card is going to be out of | | | | Read more on a website 'rvats'. |
| sight, try to pay at the register yourself. | | | | MEDICAL INDENTITY THEFT: |
| DRIVERS LICENSE THEFT: | | | | The most serious of them all. You go for a check up |
| You get stopped by a cop and next thing you know | | | | and the doctor asks you when you contracted AIDS? |
| there is a warrant for your arrest. You wonder how | | | | You are shocked! Well your report shows that |
| that can be? Somebody stole your driver's license | | | | somebody had a HIV test under your name and was |
| information and ran up tickets. Never let your driver's | | | | positive. You see people who are in that lifestyle, they |
| license out of sight or your possession. Be extra-extra | | | | are not getting tested under their identity. So they latch |
| careful with your driver's license. | | | | on to your identity and put it on your medical records. |
| SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER THEFT: | | | | Now it is your job to clean up all the mess!! |
| This is widespread because people don't realize that | | | | There are a lot of products to help with identity theft |
| they leave their social security numbers laying around | | | | protection. Most are not very good because they do |
| on so many documents. In the old days, it was | | | | not address the issue of 'identity restoration' because it |
| considered harmless to ask for social security | | | | is very expensive. On the average it takes more than |
| numbers on practically every form. Those days are | | | | 600 hours to run around various agencies to clear your |
| gone. Now a days a thief can create a whole new | | | | name. It is very frustrating to say the least. Worst still, it |
| identity with your social security number. Do not put | | | | costs on the average over $92,000 to restore your |
| your social security numbers on forms unless | | | | identity. The costs are staggering. Banks only offer |
| absolutely necessary. A lot of the old forms ask for | | | | identity theft pertaining to your accounts with them. |
| social security number. I will give you a classic example. | | | | Same with credit cards. |
| You go to a clinic and the first thing they want you to | | | | Credit card companies will only fix their own account |
| put down is social security number. There is no reason | | | | and that too after a lot of hassle. For all your other |
| for it if you have provided insurance information. Your | | | | accounts and records, (medical, criminal, social security |
| insurance company knows how to identify you. I never | | | | etc) YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN! You can read more |
| fill the social security number till they don't justify why | | | | at a website 'rvats'. Don't be caught unprotected. It is |
| they need it. So next time don't just fill out your social | | | | like leaving your house door unlocked. Educate |
| security number just because they ask for it on the | | | | yourself and get the appropriate protection that can |
| form. Ask why they need it? | | | | actually restore your identity if anything were to |
| CRIMINAL IDENTITY THEFT: | | | | happen. |