Identity Theft Can Happen to Anyone - How it Happens

I have had debit card numbers and checkbooks stolenand held under the counter for a long time. I thought it
on several occasions in the past. Each time it was awas odd at the time but attributed it to a slow system.
different scheme.Turns out she was skimming the card. Several days
I am not sure how it happened the first time. This waslater I noticed several gas transactions appearing on
way back in the 1990's. I could have inadvertentlymy online bank statement from a near by city which I
become a victim if a Phishing scheme, which was anever visit. I reported it to the bank, they canceled and
new phenomenon at that time. I found out when myreissued the card and reimbursed me for the
wife got a call from a large financial institution statingfraudulent transactions.
that someone with a Middle Eastern accent was tryingOther family members have had it happen. One had
to wire money from my account. That was a head'stheir stolen while she was in the parking lot of a
up move on the part of that employee. No moneygrocery store. The other probably has his debit card
was transferred or stolen thanks to their alertness, butstolen via a device installed at a local gas station.
I still had to cancel the accounts and cards and getThese incidents are not as bad as some. Some are
new ones. Also had my credit reports secured andmuch worse.
alerts put on.Id theft has become a menace and is something that
I had a brief case stolen from the car once. It had myneeds to be taken seriously. It can completely destroy
business check book. I don't know if their intention wasyour finances and your name if not caught in time. But
to steal my Id or they were just looking for cash. Againthere are things you can do to prevent it and things
I had to close the accounts just to be sure. Allyou can do to minimize the damage once it has
automatic deductions and deposits had to be changed.happened. For instance, shred financial documents,
Last time I was completely unaware that my cardkeep your personal information secure at home and
was being skimmed. I was renting a trailer from a localbeware of your surroundings just to name a few.
equipment rental chain. The cashier took my debit card