| Identity Theft: Start Protecting Yourself | | | | business. The most immediate effect you will see if |
| Prevention is better than cure. This is true with most | | | | your identity is stolen is that of financial loss. As soon |
| things but more so with identity theft. More than a | | | | as your data is in the hands of those intent on identity |
| quarter of a million people complained about identity | | | | crime, you can be sure that, where possible, your bank |
| theft with the Federal Trade Commission in 2005. This | | | | data and credit details will be used to remove money |
| figure was already up on the previous year and 2006 | | | | from your credit and debit accounts and that very |
| will be even greater. Over 9 million people annually in | | | | soon applications for loans or credit will be made |
| the USA have had their identity stolen. Over $56 billion | | | | where possible. |
| in financial loss has been estimated. The increased | | | | But the problems of victims do not stop there. There |
| transfer of information across the Internet together | | | | may be many months or even years of ongoing |
| with seasonal variations in the rate and amount of | | | | issues which can cost you much in terms of time, |
| information transfer, accounts for the increased | | | | energy and resources to correct. You may even be |
| amount of identity theft, identity crime and credit theft | | | | liable for credit fraud as a result of your identity theft. |
| throughout the world. Although the rate of identity theft | | | | But you will need to be able to prove to the |
| and other identity crime in the USA is very large, this | | | | companies involved that your identity has been stolen |
| crime is by no means limited to the that continent. | | | | and that you were not, in fact, responsible for the |
| Worldwide, the increases in identity theft continue. | | | | financial transactions that took place afterwards. |
| Criminals are targeting individuals in order to steal their | | | | Although this may sound is very negative, there are |
| identity. With the rise in internet activity, and especially | | | | things you can do to reduce your chances of you |
| the transfer of financial data either via banks or | | | | being a victim of identity theft or other online identity |
| financial institutions or with retail outlets online, the | | | | crime. Be wary of giving your financial details in a public |
| advantages to the remote internet criminal are obvious. | | | | places and, when asked for such information, consider |
| The theft of identity has been present for many years | | | | writing it down rather than reading it out over the |
| but the availability of such data on the Internet means | | | | counter. Similarly, online never give your personal |
| that the criminals can do this from a remote location | | | | financial information unless you are sure that the |
| and often without your knowledge | | | | person or institution asking for it is a trusted source. |
| However identity theft also occurs via close personal | | | | Invest in a paper shredder so that your financial details |
| contact. For example in physical shops and bars or | | | | at home are not easily available to those who would |
| restaurants, your identity can easily be stolen from | | | | be intent on searching through your garbage to collect |
| people who have access to your credit or debit cards. | | | | it. Your personal information and credit details are |
| You must always be wary of these criminals and, | | | | valuable to criminals. There are many instances |
| sadly, of any person who has access to your financial | | | | recorded where written personal data has been |
| transactions. This can include waiters or waitresses, | | | | collected from discarded trash. |
| bar staff, hotel staff and staff of retail outlets. | | | | Be very careful of anybody asking for personal |
| There have also been instances, which appear to be | | | | financial details over the telephone. If they are from a |
| increasingly common, where people are using mobile | | | | recognised and reputable organisation it is likely that |
| phones in order to steal your personal data. Mobile | | | | they will already have this information to hand. |
| phones with cameras are increasingly common, and | | | | Question anybody who's asking that this information |
| are small and unobtrusive. The criminals using these | | | | and consider phoning them back at a later date or time |
| devices can capture your every move and any data | | | | in order to ensure that you are speaking to the correct |
| that you use in order to transact your everyday | | | | organisation. |