By ChaChanna Simpson
First of all, I really have to give thieves some credit.
They are forever coming up with new and creative ideas to
rip off the general public. And as soon as people catch on
to one scam, they come up with another. You've got to
respect the determination. Just imagine what they could
accomplish if they only used their brains for legal
ventures.
The latest popular scam to come about is identity theft.
Yes, it has been around for a while but because of recent
technology, it has become more of a common problem. And you
may not realize it but "[your] credit record can impact
[your] ability to rent an apartment, get telephone service
or qualify for loans for graduate school," says Dan Drummund
of www.YourCreditCardCompanies.com. And because we
twentysomethings are more liable to make our purchases
online, guess who is more prone to getting their identity
stolen?
How does your identity get stolen? All the thief has to do
is get a hold of your social security number and date of
birth to open up accounts and other lines of credit in your
name. According to the Federal Trade Commission, some common
ways identity thieves get your personal information are by:
+ Stealing your wallet, purse or mail containing your
identification, credit and bank cards and statements,
pre-approved credit offers, telephone calling cards and tax
information. + Completing a "change of address form" to
divert your mail to another location. + Rummaging through
your trash, or the trash of businesses, for personal data
+ Posing as your landlord, employer or someone else who may
have a legitimate need for, and a legal right to, your
information. + Getting your files out of the offices where
you're a customer, employee, patient or student, by paying
off an employee who has access to your files. + Finding
personal information in your home. + Using personal
information you share on the Internet. + Scamming you
through email by posing as a legitimate company or
government agency you do business with.
What do the thieves do with my information? Once they get
your information, (your name, date of birth and social
security number) they call up your credit card company
pretending to be you, and ask to change your mailing address
on your credit card account. Then the `new' you runs up
charges on your account. Or they open up brand new lines of
credit, get a cell phone, buy cars and more, and don't pay
the bills. The delinquent account is documented on your
credit report but because your bills are being sent to the
new address, you may never know until it's too late. For
more information on what can happen visit
(http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/idtheft.htm).
To limit your chances of becoming a victim, Drummund
suggests some steps for you to take. + Check your credit
and bank statements against receipts to ensure that there
are no unauthorized purchases or changes in your personal
information. + Review your credit reports regularly: Credit
reports usually cost about $9 each, and in a variety of
circumstances, such as suspicion of fraud or denial of
credit, consumers are entitled to free reports. + Record
account numbers, expiration dates and customer service
department telephone numbers of all your credit card
companies in a safe location. If you realize your credit or
charge cards have been lost or stolen, immediately call the
companies. + Destroy receipts and statements before throwing
them away. (I recommend getting a paper shredder.) + Don't
lend credit cards to anyone or leave cards or receipts lying
around, and never write account numbers on a postcard or the
outside of an envelope. (You know you'll forget where you
left them.) + When communicating with credit card companies
electronically, use their secure online Web site. If their
Web site is secure the Web page will have a padlock at the
bottom of the page and a URL that begins with "https"
instead of "http". Further steps to verify the legitimacy of
a secure Web site are available at
www.YourCreditCardCompanies.com. + Deal only with companies
that post their privacy policies on their Web site.
Reputable companies clearly display their policies before
asking for your credit card or other personal information.
+ Be sure to have an updated anti-virus system and firewall,
and use it. + Create passwords that are easy for you to
remember, but difficult for "outsiders" to guess. Mix
letters and numbers, avoid using birthdays and social
security numbers and change passwords regularly.
If you would like more information or believe you are a
victim of identity theft visit
www.YourCreditCardCompanies.com and
http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/ for more information.
ChaChanna Simpson is the publisher and editor of
Twentity.com, the free ezine for twentysomethings,
featuring cheap and free events every Wednesday. Subscribe
today at www.twentity.com.