Identity theft is a real threat and increasing at an alarming rate. Recently, hackers swiped more that 40 million credit card numbers in the biggest heist ever. Additionally, these ever resourceful criminals are accessing people’s personal information and obtaining credit without their knowledge. The question is how can you protect yourself from this and what to do if you are a victim of identity theft?
There are several precautionary measures that can help prevent criminals from gaining your pertinent data. Do you receive those pre-approved credit card applications? They are very popular with criminals. Often times they have all the pertinent information on them. You can choose to opt out. With this option you are telling the three credit reporting bureaus that you do not want them to sell your information. To do this you can phone 1-888-5-optout or register by web at https://www.optoutprescreen.com.
Another tip is to sign up for online viewing for all of your accounts whether banking or credit card. With online access you should get in a habit to check your account regularly between statements. By checking often, you can discover fraud quicker and have better resolution.
Checking your credit report is also a great way to keep on top of potential fraud. You can receive a free credit report annually at www.annualcreditreport.com. This report will show all credit accounts. You can review this report to see if there are any accounts that you are unaware of.
So what do you do if you are a victim of identity theft?
- Contact all three major credit reporting bureaus. Alerts will be put on your accounts.
- Contact the Federal Trade Commission’s Website or call 1-877-ID-Theft where consumer counselors are available to assist victims.
- If fraudulent charges appear on your account, call the Consumer Credit Counseling Service at 1-800-388-2227 for help in clearing false claims on your credit report.
Last year alone, 9.9 million Americans were victims of identity theft and this number is increasing at staggering rates. For your peace of mind, be aware and remember your diligence is the best defense.