| U.S. law defines identity theft as the misuse or | | | | recession-induced massive layoffs spreads the |
| attempted misuse of any identifying information, such | | | | vulnerability across the economy. |
| as social security number, biometric data, and credit | | | | 5. Your offline habits |
| card number, to commit fraud. Law enforcement | | | | Identity thieves are predators, who will go to any length |
| authorities acknowledge that identity thieves are | | | | to steal your private information. They are good at |
| increasingly more sophisticated in their quest to gain | | | | dumpster diving, meaning they rummage through your |
| unauthorized access to personal information to feed | | | | household trash or public trash dumps to feed their |
| their illegal activities. Data theft can occur online or | | | | need for sensitive personal information. When you |
| offline. This article discusses five features associated | | | | dump your old bank statements, unused credit card |
| with identity theft and suggests ways to minimize your | | | | offers, and ATM receipts, you create opportunities for |
| risk. | | | | data thieves. |
| 1. Where you live | | | | Tips on How to Protect Yourself |
| According to a report published by the FTC in | | | | Various surveys show that victims don't always know |
| February 2009, five states with the highest per capita | | | | the persons who stole their personal information. This |
| incidence of identity theft complaints are Arizona, | | | | makes it difficult to protect yourself adequately against |
| California, Florida, Nevada, and Texas. In each of these | | | | an unknown enemy. However, the following tips can |
| states, the most common types of identity theft | | | | help make it harder for thieves to gain access to our |
| involve employment-related fraud, credit card fraud, | | | | private information: |
| phone or utilities fraud, and government documents or | | | | - Keep your personal documents in a secure place. |
| benefits fraud. | | | | Offline, this means using storage devices with locks. |
| 2. How old you are | | | | Online, using regularly updated virus protection |
| People of all ages are at risk of identity theft. | | | | software, firewall program, secure browser, and strong |
| However, FTC data for the 2006-2008 period show | | | | passwords, will help limit unauthorized access. |
| the people most likely to be victimized are 20-29 | | | | - Take advantage of the Federal law, which gives |
| year-olds. This group accounts almost 25% of | | | | every consumer the right to one free credit report |
| reported cases of theft of personal information, | | | | from each nationwide consumer reporting company |
| nationwide. | | | | every 12 months. The FTC suggests that staggering |
| 3. Where you shop | | | | these reports - that is, getting a report from a different |
| The use of the Internet exposes all of us to the threat | | | | company every few months - can help you monitor |
| of identity theft. Ironically, there is a growing trend | | | | activity on your credit reports. |
| urging us to go paperless for practically all transactions, | | | | - The threat posed by identity theft has given rise to |
| including consumer purchases, medical information, | | | | many companies that advertise products or services |
| banking services, credit card billing, payment for utilities, | | | | to help consumers prevent or minimize their risk of |
| and more. This explains why the most harmful types | | | | identity theft. The FTC recommends that before you |
| of identity theft involve new credit card and non-credit | | | | pay for any data theft prevention product or service, |
| card accounts. | | | | to make sure you understand exactly what you're |
| 4. Where you work | | | | paying for. |
| Several cases of data breaches in recent times have | | | | - If you suspect you have been, or are about to be, a |
| been inside jobs involving disgruntled employees who | | | | victim of identity theft you may ask a consumer |
| abuse their privileged access to compromise clients' | | | | reporting company to place an initial fraud alert on your |
| personal information. These employees are also likely | | | | credit report. An initial fraud alert is good for 90 days, |
| to succumb to accepting bribes in exchange for | | | | and renewable when appropriate. If you have been a |
| granting thieves unauthorized access to privileged | | | | victim of identity theft, you may ask for an extended |
| records. While certain industry sectors, such as those | | | | alert, which stays on your credit report for seven |
| providing financial services are more susceptible, | | | | years. |