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How To Protect Yourself From Identity Theft With Your Purse
By Sintilia Miecevole, Mon Dec 26th
Identity theft is the fastest growing criminal activity in the20th Century, replacing illegal drug sales. How BIG is this Problem? Banks, credit card companies and businesses that house serversstoring passwords or other sensitive information all report"break-ins"through Trojan viruses or other online hackingmethods - resulting in the loss of millions of pieces ofinformation. Instances of lost information are employees sellingit and other lax security measures resulting in thieves havingaccess to your identity.
Thieves Want - Your Name - Date of Birth - Home Address - Phone Numbers -Social Security Number - Driver's License Number - Credit CardNumbers - CW2 Security Code (the number on the back of yourcredit card) - Your Credit Report - ATM Cards - TelephoneCalling Cards - Mortgage Details Where Are They Getting Your Information? - Banks - Credit-Reference Agencies - Retailers - Credit CardNetworks - Data-Brokerage Companies - Payment ProcessingCompanies - Phone Companies - Schools - Your Employer - Doctors,Clinics and Health Departments - Government Agencies There are other effective methods: - Dumpster Diving - Mail Theft - Retail Theft -"Phishing"/pretexting/pretending - Purse/Wallet Theft What are Thieves Using Your Information For? - Making charges to your existing credit cards - Opening newcredit cards in your name - Having phone or utilities turned on- Withdrawing money from your existing bank accounts -Employment purposes - Driver's Licenses - Tax Fraud - SocialService benefits - Student loans - Business or Personal loans -Health care - Mortgage loans/leases - Auto loans - Using your IDwhen caught committing a crime How Can You Protect Yourself? - Keep a photocopy of your credit cards, bank account numbersand investment account numbers in a safe place - Keep yourcredit card receipts - Put a "fraud alert" on all your creditreports - If you apply for credit and the card doesn't arrive ontime, call the card issuer - Choose difficult PIN numbers orpasswords.
(Don't use birth dates, your mother's maiden name,etc.) - Never give personal information to anyone who sends youan email, a letter or calls you asking for it - Shred personalinformation - Don't use the ATM machine if someone is watchingyou - Pay attention to what's going on around you - cell phonesoften have cameras in them. If someone is standing by you with acell phone while you're entering a PIN number, block their view- Review your bills each month. If there's something you don'tremember, call the creditor. - Check your credit report at leastonce a year - Store your cancelled checks safely. - Don't leaveyour purse in plain sight when driving - Keep your valuableslocked in the trunk or glove box when driving - Make allpersonal information on your computer password protected - Don'tcarry information about your PIN numbers, passwords and accountnumbers in your purse or wallet Warning Signs that Your Identity Has Been Stolen: - A loan application is denied, or you're refused extendedcredit requests - You are contacted by a debt-collection agency- Your purse or wallet has been stolen, or your house brokeninto - Unfamiliar activity on your credit report What to do if it Happens to You: - If your purse or wallet is stolen, call the police - Contactyour bank, credit card and other credit extending companies andreport the theft - Close accounts - Contact the credit-reportingcompanies - Have fraudulent activity removed immediately andmonitor your credit report every 90 days for the next year - Puteverything in writing - File a report with the Federal TradeCommission - Change passwords on your existing accounts andcreate new ones for new accounts Identity theft is real. There are no guarantees you can keepyour information safe, by taking proactive steps to protectyourself, you can minimize your chances of having an "identitycrisis". About the author:Host, Sintilia Miecevole offers resources for purses withdesigns influenced by the latest trends athttp://www.trendipurses.com. Be sure to visithttp://www.trendipurses.com to find information from designerhandbags, fashion, trends and accessories to vintage, replica,wholesale and much more.
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