If you are concerned about identity theft, you should take steps to protect yourself. Identity theft happens when a person uses the personal information of another individual, such as their name, social security number, or financial account number, to commit crime or other fraudulent activities. Some people may be aware that identity theft exists. However, most people do not recognize how common it actually is. According to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), nine out of every one hundred persons are affected by identity theft each year.
There are many ways that identity thieves; can gain access to your private information. Some of these include a stolen social security number, purchases or loans that you have made using your credit card, and through online and offline scams. The FTC states that these types of transactions often involve personal and financial information. Many people do not realize that they are more likely to become a victim of identity theft than any other type of consumer fraud.
The following are some methods that you can use to prevent identity thieves from stealing your information:
Prevent ID Theft with Credit Card Skimming. Skimming is a fraud prevention technique used in some cases where thieves have accessed your identity through theft of your credit cards. There are several ways that this type of fraud can occur. One way is through skimming where the thieves use a high-powered lens to catch your details. Another way is through skimming where the thieves attach magnetic strips to your credit cards.
Prevent ID Theft by Limiting Your Spending; You can limit the amount of money that you spend on unnecessary and impulse items. For example, you may wish to only shop at stores that you plan to frequent or only buy things that you need. Furthermore, some thieves may even attempt to steal credit cards information by having your PIN number sent to them. Thus, you can protect yourself from being the next victim of id theft by implementing these ideas.
Report ID Theft to Your Assistant District Attorney Attorneys; Once you have learned who committed the ID theft, it is important that you notify your local district attorney’s office. Most assistant district attorneys will work closely with law enforcement to investigate cases of id theft. In fact, if the thief is caught, he can be prosecuted according to state laws regarding ID theft.
Report ID Theft to Polic;. Once you have informed law enforcement about the ID theft, they will conduct an investigation. In some cases, the police report will be filed and submitted to the appropriate agencies. In other instances, the police may file a report directly to the concerned ID theft victims. If you are a victim, you can always advise the police to file a police report.