Resources for Identity Theft Victims

Having the right resources to prevent theft or else learn how to cope with identity theft and take the steps to recover from the loss is essential, since more victims occur daily. First, you will need copies of your credit reports or else information that will help you to see what is on your credit reports. The Free Credit Report site is just one area online where you can view copies of your reports. The site is secure as you will see when you look in the search engine, noticing the's' behind the http: in the area. The's' stands for secure site. Otherwise, you can visit the TransUnion site, Experian site or Equifax to request an annual free copy of your report. If you have received your free annual report then you will need to view the updated copies or else pay the small fees to obtain personally copies of your reports. If you are a victim of identity theft, you will need to mail a letter to the three bureaus requesting a copy of your reports and provide proof of your identity, including utility receipts of last area lived, rental or mortgage receipts, picture ID and social security number.

Once you have copies in your hands review the reports carefully to make sure that nothing is showing on your report that does not belong to you. If you notice, any unauthorized debts report them immediately to the bureaus, disputing the actions. If you are a victim of identity theft make, sure you monitor your reports carefully all through the year and from that point on. Some recommend that you review your reports during the first year at least twice and yearly thereafter, however, twice is not enough. Take it from someone that knows from experience.

Thieves will work longer hours than most police officers to get what they want and when they want it. Therefore, reviewing your reports only twice per year is leaving room for the perpetrator to take full control. If you recently fell into the hands of an identity theft, be sure to report the crime immediately and keep copies of the police report. The police will do little to find the perpetrator unless you meet their special criteria of victims, but for the most part, you will have ammunition. Next, report the crime to the Federal Trade Commission Consumers, where you information will reach government officials. Again, expect little effort to find the perpetrator, but at most, you will have additional ammunition.

If you have to go to the FBI and higher if necessary to make the law work for you and to enforce that the perpetrator is caught. Unfortunately, victims of identity theft rarely receive justice. You might want to go online and read any information available on identity theft to learn how to protect, recover and take the steps to ensue the case.

It is important that you protect your self from identity theft, even if you are a victim. All of us are encouraged to change our passwords and PIN numbers at random to avoid loss. We are also encouraged to close any accounts if a thief has your information, including closing credit card accounts, bank accounts, and other accounts in your name. Keep watch over all new accounts, including statements you receive. Make sure you keep all copies of your receipts, even if the receipts do not seem important. Store the receipts, statements and any notes you keep on your self in a safe place.

Many people store information on computers, but this is a bad idea. Computers are far too risky of loss to store valuable information on them, thus store you information on discs, tapes and keep hard copies in a safe place for sufficiency.

It is important that you keep your personal information out of everyone's hands, including friends, family if necessary and so forth. All it takes is one mistake and your life can fall into anyone's hands at any time. Finally, if you are a victim of identity theft, report the crime to the Department of Motor Vehicles also, since criminals holding your driver license will do anything in your name.

Tony Robinson is an International Author, Webmaster and Security Guru. Check out his Identity Theft Protection Tips at http://www.officialidentitytheft.com/

Identity Theft - Your Prevention Guide

Identity theft occurs when someone illegally obtains your personal information (social security number, credit card numbers or some other personal information) and uses that information to apply for loans or credit cards under your name or to make unauthorized purchases or gain access to your financial accounts. It is extremely prevalent these days, but there are steps you can take which will reduce the chances of you becoming a victim of identity theft.

1. NEVER give out personal information (date of birth, social security number, credit card numbers) over the phone, by email or on the internet unless you initiated the contact and know whom you're dealing with. If your social security number is requested, ask if another form of ID could be substituted in its place.

2. ALWAYS shred papers that have your personal information on them before throwing them away. Papers that should be shredded include credit card receipts, checks, bank statements, credit card statements, expired credit cards and pre-approved credit card offers. Cross-cut shredders are great for this purpose.

3. Keep accurate and current records of all your credit cards and who you should contact in case they are lost or stolen. You may want to take copies of your credit cards and write the customer service number on the copy. If you are not currently using some of your credit cards, you should keep them securely locked away. Other things to keep in a secure location include: unused checks, your social security card, bank statements and credit card statements.

4. ALWAYS make sure you get your copy of a credit card receipt when making a purchase. Check to make sure your credit card was returned to you as well.

5. Check your credit reports annually. There are three credit reporting agencies; Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Every year, you are allowed one free credit report from each of these credit reporting agencies. Go to www.annualcreditreport.com to order your free credit reports, ordering one from a different agency every 4 months.

6. ALWAYS make sure there are no "shoulder surfers" around when you are keying in your PIN number at an ATM or store. Be careful that no one overhears you when giving out your credit card number or personal information over the phone.

7. When purchasing on the internet, always make sure the site you're using is secure. You know you're on a secure site if the web address changes from http:// to https:// when you click on "buy" or "add to cart." You will also note a lock or key symbol in the lower corner of the web page.

8. On your own computer, use a firewall and virus protection. Use passwords that include letters, numbers and symbols to make them more difficult to break. Never use PIN numbers that are obvious, such as your birth date, street number, phone number, the last four digits of your social security number or any consecutive numbers. Memorize your PIN number-do not write it down. If your mother's maiden name is requested for security purposes, use a password instead-one you will remember.

9. NEVER respond to emailed requests from banks or creditors to update your information. You should always call the institution directly or go to their website (do NOT use the website the email directs you to) to update your information. Rarely do banks or other institutions request such information by email, and it is a simple task for someone to create a website that looks just like your bank's or creditor's.

10. If you receive lots of pre-approved credit card offers in the mail, call (888) 5OPT OUT to have your name removed from the marketing lists sold by the major credit bureaus.

11. Drop off outgoing mail at your post office or collection box rather than leaving it in your mailbox for pick up.

12. Have new checks mailed to your bank and pick them up there.

13. Place passwords on your bank accounts, brokerage accounts and credit card accounts for protection. Once again, use a mix of letters, numbers and symbols.

14. Consider an ID theft insurance policy.

15. Register with Equifax Credit Watch?. Equifax Credit Watch? makes monitoring your report easy by automatically alerting you within 24 hours of key changes in your Equifax Credit Report? - like when someone tries to get credit in your name or there are sudden changes in your credit card balances. - so you can act before serious damage is done. Debbie Pettitt teaches you all about identity theft: what it is, how it occurs and what to do if you are a victim at http://understandingidentitytheft.com. If you need help straightening out your credit report, learn all about it at http://yourcreditscoreranking.com.

Home Loans Identity Theft Protection Could Hurt Home Sales

Identity theft has been a hot topic in the news during the last few years. Just a month or so ago, forty million credit card numbers were compromised due to a computer attack on a credit card processor. Consumers are rightly concerned, as it can take years to unravel the problems created when someones identity is stolen. New legislation in Texas and California, also proposed elsewhere, is designed to protect consumers by letting them put a freeze on their credit reports. Those in the real estate industry are worried, however, that doing so may make it difficult for some people to buy homes.

The concept of freezing credit reports is a simple one. Every time someone applies for credit, the lender contacts on of the three main credit bureaus and requests a copy of his or her credit report, which contains the applicants FICO score. The score, a number ranging from 300 to 850, indicates how worthy the applicant is to qualify for the loan or credit. The new laws allow consumers to freeze their credit reports, effectively blocking any attempts by anyone to view his or her credit score. If the score cant be viewed, then credit cant be issued, thus protecting the consumer from fraudulent activity.

The process is a simple one, and can be initiated or canceled with a simple transaction on the Internet. The problem, according to those in the real estate industry, is that this simple security precaution may make it difficult for a consumer who has blocked their credit to buy a home. In many markets, homes put up for sale sell in a few hours or days, and the process of unfreezing a credit report can take longer than that. If a home seller or lender cannot assess a potential buyers credit rating, then the home sale may be lost to another buyer. True, it is a simple process to unfreeze a credit report, but some consumers may forget that they froze their reports in the first place, or they may forget or misplace their username or password for the Website that allows them to unfreeze their report.

On the surface, the new laws to protect consumers seem to be a good idea, and those in the real estate industry who are concerned may find that their worries are unjustified. This is a case where all parties would benefit from taking the time to see if the laws are effective, and whether or not they actually hurt the real estate industry. In the meantime, anyone considering purchasing a home should be made aware of the ramifications of freezing their credit, as doing so may make it more difficult to purchase the house of his or her dreams.

debt consolidation and credit counseling information and HomeEquityHelp.net, a site devoted to information on mortgages and home equity loans.

Identity Theft And The Internet

LexisNexis, a provider of personal and financial data, recently reported that the personal information of as many as 310,000 people nationwide may have been stolen. This figure is nearly 10 times higher than the original figure disclosed last month by the company.

ChoicePoint Inc., another consumer data collection service, stated 145,000 people in their database were possibly exposed to identity thieves earlier this year. At DSW Shoe Warehouse, officials acknowledged stolen credit information at 103 of its 175 stores nationwide. Hackers have also targeted databases at California State University as well as the University of California, San Diego.

Many consumers now fear that using the internet puts them at a higher risk of identity theft. However, surveys have shown that only 10 percent of known identity theft cases have resulted from online fraud. Dumpster diving along with phone scams account for far more ID theft than the internet.

In fact you can use the internet to help protect yourself from this crime in three unique ways:

1) View your banking and credit accounts online. Almost all banks and credit card companies have secure web sites that allow you to view your statements and activity safely online. Secure sites are those that begin with https// or display a padlock icon on your computer screen.

NEVER access a financial site through a link embedded in an e-mail message. E-mails with links asking you to verify or re-register your personal information are a sure sign of phishing, a scam to collect your name and other identifying information to steal your identity.

Instead, type the bank or creditors website address into your browser. Check your accounts every two weeks. Verify that the credits and debits shown on the statements are valid. Report any suspicious activity immediately to your bank or creditor.

2) Monitor your credit report. The main reason for stealing your identity is to open new credit accounts to purchase good and services using your name and stolen identity. Chances are that you wont know youre an ID theft victim until youre denied credit or you receive bills for accounts you never opened.

If an ID thief has opened accounts in your name, they are most likely to appear on your credit report. There are three major credit reporting agencies; Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian.

New legislation allows you to obtain your credit report annually from all three of these agencies for free. This new program is being phased in gradually across the U.S.. Check www.annualcreditreport.com to see when your state becomes active in this program.

3) Use credit monitoring services. A variety of paid services are available that will monitor your credit reports for activity and alert you to any changes. As with any product or service, make sure you understand what you're getting before you buy. You can enjoy a free 30-day trial of CreditCheck monitoring service and get a free copy of your Experian credit report by visiting http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com. This monitoring service checks your credit report daily to notify you about fraudulent activity, new inquiries, new accounts, late payments, and more so you can spot possible signs of identity theft. After the free 30-day trial, you will be billed $9.95 monthly unless you cancel the service.

If you become a victim of ID theft, your opportunity for loans, jobs, or even housing could be affected. Taking immediate action after being victimized can minimize the damage.

Here are some additional helpful identity theft related sites:
www.consumer.gov/idtheft/ (US government ID theft website)
www.privacyrights.org/identity.htm (ID theft resources)
www.identitytheft.org/ (ID theft prevention and survival)

James is editor of "TO YOUR CREDIT", a free weekly newsletter with tips to help you manage your personal finances. Subscribe today and receive his ebook IDENTITY THEFT- How To Avoid Becoming the Next Victim! and other free bonuses by visiting http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com.

 www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com

 James H. Dimmitt