How Can You Avoid Personal Identity Theft and Credit Card Fraud?
152,624 viewsAccording to a up-to-date poll by Experian, 1 in 5 Americans has reported they have experienced several genre of personal identity theft. If it happens to you, and your personal identity is stolen, you might be in for a lengthy hassle that could cost you your credit rating and result a permanent blight on your financial records.
How Credit Card Information Theft Starts
Thieves begin by targeting your confidential data: Social security numbers, bank statements, tax reports, credit card debit information and passwords, or even your checkbook. Don’t let this important piece of information lying around at your office, or in your car. Be conscious that you are leaving a gate open for anybody to get access to your bank account or credit card information. Contest anybody who asks for your credit data, inclusive employers; find out what their privacy policy is and get a photocopy of it. Shred all documents no matter how insignificant they may appear to you. In conjunct, don’t ever lend your credit card to ANYBODY, included household members, unless you are willing to take on their debt personally. Many domestic arguments have ended up in court of justice with bitter feelings from one time casual credit card or debit card lending that got out of reach. When you apply for a credit card, be sure that their online application is secured, and the privacy notification is posted.
Discovering Signs of Personal identity Theft
- If you’ve often been wanting your credit card bill, or your mail keeps getting “lost” contact the post office right away. If you live in an condominium complex , find out from your superintendent or manager if you can modify your mailbox key. A missing bill could mean that an personal identity theft has occurred and the billing address has been changed.
- If you’re all of a sudden acquiring credit cards (not just a credit card offer) from companies that you didn’t apply. Call these companies and find out if you are the bank account holder; if not verbally cancel the account and follow up with a composed communication.
- If you’re being denied credit, or your credit card terms are all of a sudden being changed to upper interest terms, for no obvious explanation.
- You’re all of a sudden acquiring phone calls and letters from creditors about purchases you did not make.