| How Your Identity Is Stolen | | | | sending you money, so how does this scam work? |
| Identity theft is a serious problem that plagues | | | | The routing number on your check doesn't identify you |
| everyone from businesses to individual wage earners. | | | | personally; rather it identifies your bank. It may seem |
| It can ruin your credit score, wipe out your bank | | | | that criminals couldn't use this number to hurt you but |
| account, and leave you in a mountain of debt. When | | | | they can. They will obtain your routing number, account |
| someone steals your identity, you may even find your | | | | number, and identity to print fraudulent checks drawn |
| name on a list of wanted felons. | | | | on your own account. |
| The best way to protect yourself from identity theft is | | | | Your Garbage Bin |
| by knowing the ways in which it can occur. Having this | | | | Criminals can be very clever when it comes to |
| knowledge will help you take steps to prevent criminals | | | | obtaining the information they need to steal your |
| form getting their hands on your personal information. | | | | identity. They are willing to do just about anything |
| Online Phishing Scams | | | | including rummaging through your household garbage. |
| One way criminals can obtain your personal | | | | Think about all of the solicitation letters you receive |
| information is by using phishing scams. Phishing scams | | | | from creditors. Think about the bank statements you |
| will send out e-mails from what appears to be a | | | | toss into the trash. Criminals can steal your discarded |
| well-known site like Ebay, Amazon, or your personal | | | | credit offers and bank statements to assume your |
| bank or credit card company. The e-mail will request | | | | identity. It is wise to invest in a paper shredder. |
| the person verify or confirm their user information for | | | | Shredders can cost as little as fifty dollars. That is a |
| the Web site. The e-mails may attempt to frighten | | | | small price to pay to protect your reputation and |
| users into providing personal information by stating | | | | accumulated wealth. |
| "your account will be closed unless you act | | | | Increasing Rate of Identity Fraud |
| immediately." The e-mail will usually contain a link to a | | | | Check fraud and identity theft are the two fastest |
| bogus Web site. Once you enter your information in | | | | growing financial crimes in the country. The increase in |
| this bogus website, you've been had. Criminals now | | | | these crimes has lead to an increase in the measures |
| have your username and login information to your | | | | that can prevent them. One of the best methods to |
| account. | | | | prevent fraud is the use of MICR toner. This magnetic |
| Your Routing Number | | | | ink can prevent the duplication of checks. Check users |
| Everyone should safeguard their personal information, | | | | can also employ watermarks which make duplication |
| even the parts of it they may seem harmless. One | | | | impossible. |
| common scam is when criminals even offer to send | | | | Using some simple prevention methods and being |
| you money. They convince you to give them your | | | | careful with the distribution of your personal information |
| bank routing and checking number so they can | | | | can prevent you from becoming the victim of identity |
| transfer money into your account via wire transfer. | | | | theft. |
| However, these con-artists never had any intention on | | | | |