| Overviews the availability of an individuals personal | | | | information |
| information as a result of human failure, security | | | | The only solutions thus far for consumers have been |
| breaches, greed or ignorance of available laws to | | | | shock reactive - by then, it's too late. Identity theft can |
| protect consumer information. The author suggests | | | | happen anyplace to anyone. In line at the store, online |
| implementing additional safeguards to avoid identity | | | | at home, business practices mentioned above or when |
| theft. | | | | you're buying your morning coffee. If your identity is |
| When it comes to all the proactive measures you think | | | | stolen, you can spend hundreds of hours cleaning up |
| you know about protecting your personal information | | | | your credit and struggling to get back your good name. |
| from identity thefts you should know, there are already | | | | That's because stolen identities are used up to 30 |
| two strikes against you. The simple fact of the matter | | | | times, with most victims only discovering the theft after |
| is whether you like it or not, you only control about 20 | | | | they've been turned down for a loan or contacted by |
| percent of the personal information about yourself that | | | | a collection agency. You may already be a victim, |
| is spread all over the country. The remaining 80 | | | | many times over, and not even know it. |
| percent of your personal information is in the hands of | | | | Unexpected effects even after the thief stops using |
| businesses and unfortunately; businesses are not as | | | | the information, victims struggle with the impact of the |
| savvy as you might be in the protection of your | | | | identity theft crime. This might include increased |
| personal information. | | | | insurance or credit card fees, inability to find a job, |
| Kristen Gehrig, director of global marketing for | | | | higher interest rates and battling collection agencies |
| Fellowes Inc. in Itasca, the leading shredder | | | | and issuers who refuse to clear records despite |
| manufacturer, said "few states--and Illinois is not one of | | | | substantiating evidence of the identity crime. This |
| them--require destruction of documents. Although | | | | "aggravation and turmoil" may continue for more than |
| several federal laws mandate safeguards for | | | | 10 years after the crime was first discovered and |
| customer privacy, only the Fair and Accurate Credit | | | | subsequently reported. |
| Transactions Act (FACTA) approved in June 2005 | | | | If you think you know all the tricks in thwarting the |
| requires businesses to destroy certain types of | | | | identity thief; think again! The criminals will just bide their |
| consumer information. But what we found in our | | | | time and wait for you to forget some available |
| research," she said, "is that 87 percent of small | | | | proactive measure and strike you down in the |
| businesses are not aware of FACTA and their | | | | confusion and distraction of everyday existence. If |
| responsibility to make proper Disposal of Consumer | | | | they can't get you individually, they'll strike a business |
| Report Information and Records under this act." | | | | that fails to shred your personal information or has |
| Businesses hatch identity losses all the time with | | | | some security breach that avails the info needed. |
| security breaches that can be broken down into a | | | | There are many services in the industry that offer |
| number of categories. What they have in common is | | | | proactive identity theft protection with a proven |
| that they contain personal identifying information in a | | | | solution that prevents your identity from being stolen |
| format easily read by thieves, in other words, your | | | | before it happens. They protect your identity and |
| personal information is not encrypted. Breaches include | | | | personal information for only $10 a month - and one |
| but are not limited to the following; | | | | guarantee's their service up to $1,000,000. They also |
| * Lost or stolen laptops, computers or other computer | | | | offer the only identity theft child protection program |
| storage devices | | | | available in the market, so guarantee your good name |
| * Backup tapes lost in transit because they were not | | | | today and review the many identity theft services |
| sent either electronically or with a human escort | | | | available in the market. The Federal Trade Commission |
| * Hackers breaking into systems | | | | recommends that the small print in all the available |
| * Employees stealing information or allowing access to | | | | services be understood before commitment because, |
| information | | | | some programs are better than others. |
| * Information bought by a fake business | | | | I can't recommend the course of action you should |
| * Poor business practices- for example sending | | | | take to protect you identity. I can however suggest |
| postcards with Social Security numbers on them | | | | you simply recognize the fact the problem of identity |
| * Internal security failures | | | | theft is a growing problem. It is bigger than you and I |
| * Viruses, Trojan Horses and computer security | | | | and a proactive service supplementing our own |
| loopholes | | | | personal initiatives to avoid identity theft; might just be |
| * Info tossed into dumpsters- improper disposition of | | | | the best decision ever made. |