Protecting Your Identity

Written by Jennifer Gayle

Wednesday, 01 October 2008

"If you have been born, you can become victimized", says Bert Howard, Certified ID Theft Risk Management Specialist.    BUT WHAT IS IDENTITY THEFT? AND HOW CAN YOU PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING TO YOU.  THAT IS WHAT BERT HOWARD TALKS ABOUT DURING AN IDENTITY THEFT AND YOUR BUSINESS SEMINAR.     THE MOST COMMON BELIEF OF IDENTITY THEFT IS FINANCIAL, MAYBE FRAUDULENT CREDIT CARDS, OVERDRAWN BANK ACCOUNTS AND ILLEGAL CHECKS.   "We have cell phones, every-body's got one, if someone wanted to make photo copy of your identity, your TDL, check credit cards.  It's simply a couple of snaps and away it goes,"says Howard.      HOWEVER, THERE ARE FIVE TYPES OF IDENTITY THEFT. FINANCIAL, DRIVERS LICENSE, SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS,MEDICAL RECORDS, CRIMINAL RECORDS.  . PEOPLE COULD PRETEND TO BE YOU, AND IF THEY HAVE A WARRANT UNDER YOUR NAME, IT HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR THE VICTIM TO GO TO JAIL.      VICTORIA RANKS NUMBER 92 NATIONWIDE. HOWARD SAYS IDENTITY THEFT HERE IS TIED TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, ILLEGAL NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING AND OTHER ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES.     "We're a major thorough fair or fly by that's why we are at risk.  There is an impact to both consumers and business owners."      AND BUSINESS OWNERS BEWARE. FACT ACT OR FACTA STATES THAT BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO MAINTAIN OR OTHERWISE POSSESS CONSUMER INFORMATION CAN BE HELD LIABLE.  IF AN EMPLOYEE'S OR CUSTOMER'S INFORMATION GETS LOST UNDER THE WRONG CIRCUMSTANCES IT MAY COST YOUR COMPANY HEAVY FINES AND LAWSUITS.   ONE RECOMMENDATION TO HELP KEEP YOUR IDENTITY SAFE IS TO PULL YOUR CREDIT ANNUALLY TO CHECK FOR ANY FRAUDULENT ACTIVITY.  Protect yourself from identity theft. Consumer Credit Reporting Industry 1-888-5-(optout) 1-888-567-8688 Request to be removed from telemarketing list Do not call registry: 1-888-382-1222 Medical Inquiries http://www.mib.com Pull a Free Credit Report www.annualcreditreport.com Federal Trade Commission 1-877-idtheft www.consumer.gov/idtheft

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 01 October 2008 )