Identity Guide
We live in a technological age. These are times where we can almost instantly email people on the other side of a world whose far reaches were distant and foreign to us only several years ago. A previously unheard landslide of information on any given subject is limited only by the finger's speed on the computer's keyboard. It's a time where plastic is cash and people have substituted the teller's friendly face at the local bank for the glow on their personal screens in the comfort of their homes or offices as they complete their internet banking. We live in a time where everything is fast and easily obtained, where names and personal information can be plucked from cyberspace, and what was once a simple bill of sale or receipt contains enough information to ruin you financially. It's the boon of the Information Age, but it's also the time of Identity Theft.
The problem is quickly becoming an epidemic. Identity theft has the dubious distinction of being classified as the fastest growing crime in America, and the emotional impact on its victims has been compared to that of violent crime. It's all about stealing your personal information and using it for fraud. But what can be done? How does the average consumer protect himself from this type of thief when only one in 700 offenders is caught?
The most important rule to protect oneself from identity theft is the simplest. Guard your personal information diligently. Don't give your social security number to anyone unless you're absolutely sure of their integrity and can validate their trustworthiness. Beware of emails that appear to be from reputable companies asking for information. You should also sign your credit cards as soon as you receive them. Don't wait or think you might not have to sign them at all. It is difficult for a criminal to buy things with a signed credit card that's been lost or stolen, but it's much easier for thieves to run up a bill once they've forged the name themselves.
Another tip: No matter how worried you are you might forget it, never write your social security or personal banking numbers (PIN) down and carry them with you. If those cards are ever lost or stolen with that kind of information easily accessible, it could take up to 600 hours to straighten the whole mess out.
Unique passwords for online accounts, as well as other types of accounts, are also a necessity. Don't use the first password that comes to mind when prompted to make one up. Your mother's maiden name may seem pretty obscure to you, but that's just the kind of information a thief might try to use to access your account.
You might also want to invest in something that's been around for a while in the conveniences of a modern life. The paper shredder is an excellent way to make sure no one gets the goods on you from a discarded receipt.