| It's every person's worst nightmare. You're simply | | | | the hands of too many institutions and organizations; it's |
| going about your daily routine, living your life and | | | | like trying to close the barn door after the horse gets |
| minding your own business, when you receive a phone | | | | out. There are steps you can take that will prevent |
| call from a bill collector. He says you owe thousands | | | | some avenues of identity theft (such as shredding |
| of dollars on a credit card you didn't even know you | | | | papers with personal information that you'd normally |
| had. Or maybe you apply for a loan and are shocked | | | | throw out), but that's just the tip of the iceberg. |
| to discover that you're turned down because, even | | | | 3. Isn't credit fraud the most prevalent kind of identity |
| though you pay each of your bills on time, you have a | | | | theft? Contrary to popular belief, only about a third of |
| low credit score. Perhaps you go online to check your | | | | identity thefts relate to credit fraud. Even if you are |
| savings account balance and find that you've been | | | | impeccable about credit monitoring, it won't defend |
| cleaned out. In other words, while you've been | | | | against someone using your personal information for |
| engaged in the business of living, you've become a | | | | things like medical expenses, checking accounts, |
| victim of identity theft. If you think that these are | | | | driver's licenses, tax fraud, passports, and social |
| far-fetched scenarios, think again. Thirteen people have | | | | security benefits. |
| their identities stolen every single minute. Here, then, are | | | | 4. What's the best way to get true identity protection? |
| answers to common questions about identity theft. | | | | The best way to get true identity protection is through |
| 1. Am I safe as long as I don't give out my personal | | | | a service that uses a multi-pronged approach. This |
| information over the phone or online? Not at all. Take a | | | | involves credit monitoring that looks for signs of |
| minute to think about the people, organizations, and | | | | potential fraud and identity monitoring that screens |
| companies that have your personal information. Banks, | | | | public records and national databases for identity |
| other financial institutions and professionals, medical | | | | thieves that are using your name and social security |
| professionals, hospitals, schools, and retail merchants all | | | | number. In addition, the service should have extensive |
| store your personal information electronically. In other | | | | expertise in full identity recovery, including coordination |
| words, you really don't control access to your | | | | with law enforcement agencies, should you become |
| information. If an identity thief breaches a bank's, | | | | the victim of identity theft. It should also provide you |
| school's, or insurance company's security system, they | | | | with expense reimbursement insurance that covers all |
| will have access to vital information. Over the past | | | | of the members of your family. The service you |
| several years, millions of credit card numbers, bank | | | | choose should also supply you with your personalized |
| account information, social security numbers, and | | | | identity risk score that rates your chances of |
| employee records have been stolen from trusted | | | | becoming a victim of identity theft. Only then will you |
| institutions. | | | | be able to have the peace of mind knowing that you |
| 2. Can I prevent identity theft? No, you really can't | | | | have done everything you can to defend yourself |
| prevent identity theft. Your personal information is in | | | | against identity theft. |