The Need For Identity Theft Protection

What can the average person do to ensure that personal information is kept personal and to guard against possible identity theft? Here is a list of suggestions that will help you get the best possible identity theft protection.

Look at your credit reports. These reports contain the kind of information an identity thief is interested in, as well as the statistics you should know for identity theft protection. The report shows what accounts you have and how you pay your bills. The law allows you to obtain a free version of this report at least once a year. If an identity thief is operating with your information, this report will show it in some way.

Review the credit reports. Look for any benchmarks that would alert you to possible identity theft, like inquiries from companies you haven't contacted, accounts you didn't open, and debits on accounts that can't be explained. Check to see that all personal information is correct and that an identity thief hasn't tampered with it.

Review your financial statements. Look at your accounts and billing statements on a regular basis. Watch for any changes that seem odd, like debits that you can't account for and other things that could be the sign of possible identity theft.

It's sad, but many people never realize their personal information has been stolen until the damage from an identity thief has already been done. You may only find out after bills or debts that you've never incurred go to a collection agency -- and then it's too late for identity theft protection. You might only learn of a bad credit history when you are refused a car loan or mortgage -- or when you open your mail to find a letter about a house you never owned, an apartment you never rented, or a job you never held. All these cases demand you investigate possible identity theft immediately.

You need identity theft protection. This means understanding your own vulnerabilities for fraud with personal information and taking the steps to mend these potential problems. It's the best thing you can do for yourself to ensure that your financial situation remains protected at all times.

When Frank Abagnale trains law enforcement officers for the FBI's National Academy about identity theft, he asks agents for their addresses and nothing more. The next day, he returns with everything he would need to steal their lives: Social Security numbers, dates of birth, current salary, checking account numbers, the names of everyone in their family, and more. This illustrates how easy it is for anyone from anywhere in the world to assume our identity and, in a matter of hours, devastate our lives in ways that can take years to recover from. Considering the fact that a fresh victim is hit in the U.S. every four seconds, Stealing Your Life is the reference everyone needs, by an unsurpassed authority on the latest identity-theft schemes.

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