How To Prevent Identity Theft

By John Mussi

The best way to prevent Identity Theft is always to be vigilant. Never assume or take things for granted. Here are examples of some of the steps you can take to protect yourself against Identity Theft:

Buy a shredder – they are readily available from any office supplies company. They are also relatively cheap compared to the cost of having your identity stolen.

Do NOT throw bank statements, cheque books, utility bills or old credit cards in the waste or rubbish bins. Always shred them or cut them up by using a pair of scissors.

When paying for goods at a shop or withdrawing money from a cash point machine always protect your passwords, codes, PIN numbers from prying eyes.

Protect your personal information within your own home.You may be careful about locking your doors and windows, and keeping your personal papers in a secure place but an identity thief may not need to set foot in your house to steal your personal information. You may store your financial records, tax returns, birth date, and bank account numbers on your computer.

These tips can help you keep your computer - and the personal information it stores - safe.

Virus protection software should be updated regularly, and patches for your operating system and other software programs should be installed to protect against intrusions and infections that can lead to the compromise of your computer files or passwords. Ideally, virus protection software should be set to automatically update each week. The Windows XP operating system also can be set to automatically check for patches and download them to your computer.

Do not open files sent to you by strangers, or click on hyperlinks or download programs from people you don't know. Opening a file could expose your system to a computer virus or a program known as "spyware," which could capture your passwords or any other information as you type it into your keyboard.

Use a firewall program, especially if you use a high-speed Internet connection that leaves your computer connected to the Internet 24 hours a day. The firewall program will allow you to stop uninvited access to your computer. Without it, hackers can take over your computer, access the personal information stored on it, or use it to commit other crimes.

Use a secure browser - software that encrypts or scrambles information you send over the Internet -to guard your online transactions. When submitting information, look for the "lock" icon on the browser's status bar to be sure your information is secure during transmission.

Try not to store financial information on your laptop unless absolutely necessary. If you do, use a strong password a combination of letters (upper and lower case), numbers and symbols. Don't use an automatic log-in feature that saves your user name and password, and always log off when you're finished. That way, if your laptop is stolen, it's harder for a thief to access your personal information.

Before you dispose of a computer, delete all the personal information it stored. Deleting files using the keyboard or mouse commands or reformatting your hard drive may not be enough because the files may stay on the computer's hard drive, where they may be retrieved easily. Use a "wipe" utility program to overwrite the entire hard drive.

About the Author: John Mussi is the founder of Direct Online Loans who help UK homeowners find the best available loans via the www.directonlineloans.co.uk website.

Source: www.isnare.com

Identity Theft – Monitor Your Credit Report

By Charles Essmeier

The recent security breach at credit card processor CardSystems Solutions has many consumers worried. Thanks to a well-placed computer virus, nearly forty million credit card numbers were stolen, and cardholders nationwide are justifiably concerned about identity theft. Should a thief steal your identity, he or she could run up thousands of dollars worth of debt in your name and it could take years to sort out the ensuing financial mess.

Fortunately, a relatively new tool is available to consumers to help alert them to potential fraudulent activity on their credit record. Each of the three main credit bureaus offer a subscription-based credit monitoring program, as do numerous banks and financial institutions. Fees vary, but $50 or so per year is typical. The bureaus will notify consumers of activity conducted under their names, including the opening of new accounts, changes of address, credit inquiries from lenders, late payments and lawsuits and liens. Notification can come in the form of e-mail or even a message to your cell phone, if you like.

Should you be notified of suspicious activity, you can then call the appropriate agency, be it a lender, the credit bureau itself or the police, if necessary. The packages vary in both prices and features, so interested consumers should shop around to find a plan that works to fit their needs.

A free alternative is to obtain a free credit report. Thanks to a law passed last year, Americans can obtain one free report from each of the three credit bureaus per year through a special Website. By obtaining one report every four months, consumers can keep an eye on activity under their name for free. This is not nearly as effective as subscribing to a monitoring plan, which will notify you when activity takes place, but it is better than doing nothing at all. With the recent security breaches by major credit card processors, consumers who are worried about being victims of identity theft have genuine concerns. The credit bureaus are doing what they can to help, and the monitoring programs and free credit reports are a step in the right direction.

About the Author: ©Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including http://www.End-Your-Debt.com, a site devoted to debt consolidation and credit counseling, and http://www.homeequityhelp.net, a site devoted to information regarding home equity lending.

Source: www.isnare.com

Identity theft occurs all over the USA. Help can be obtained in all cities and states:
 Alaska AK: Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, Anaktuvuk Pass, Anchor Point, Dillingham, Goodnews Bay, Perryville
Alabama AL: Birmingham, Montgomery, Mobile, Huntsville, Tuscaloosa, Hoover, Dothan, Decatur, Florence, Hoover
Arkansas AR: Little Rock, Fort Smith, Fayetteville, Springdale, Jonesboro, North Little Rock, Pine Bluff, Conway, Arkadelphia, Fort Smith
Arizona AZ: Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa, Glendale, Chandler, Scottsdale, Gilbert, Tempe, Peoria, Bullhead City
California CA: Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Long Beach, Fresno, Sacramento, Oakland, Santa Ana, Bakersfield
Colorado CO: Denver, Colorado Springs, Aurora, Lakewood, Fort Collins, Thornton, Westminster, Arvada, Pueblo, Aspen
Connecticut CT: Bridgeport, New Haven, Hartford, Stamford, Waterbury, Norwalk, Danbury, New Britain, West Hartford, Milford
Delaware DE: Wilmington, Dover, Newark, Edgemoor, Fenwick Island, Harbeson, Rehoboth Beach, Hockessin, Woodside, Clarksville
Florida FL: Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Hialeah, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Tallahassee, Pembroke Pines, Hollywood, Cape Coral, Port St. Lucie, Coral Springs, Clearwater, Gainesville, Miramar, Pompano Beach
Georgia GA: Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Savannah, Athens, Macon, Sandy Springs, Roswell, Albany, Marietta, Warner Robins
Hawaii HI: Honolulu, Hilo, Kahului, Kailua, Kaneohe, Mililani Town, Pearl City, Waimalu, Waipahu, Hanamaulu
Iowa IA: Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Sioux City, Waterloo, Iowa City, Council Bluffs, Dubuque, West Des Moines, Ames
Idaho ID: Boise City, Nampa, Pocatello, Idaho Falls, Meridian, Coeur d'Alene, Twin Falls, Caldwell, Lewiston, Rexburg, Post Falls, Moscow
Illinois IL: Chicago, Aurora, Rockford, Naperville, Joliet, Springfield, Peoria, Elgin, Waukegan, Cicero, Decatur, Evanston
Indiana IN: Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Evansville, South Bend, Gary, Hammond, Bloomington, Muncie, Lafayette,
Kansas KS: Wichita, Overland Park, Kansas City, Topeka, Olathe, Lawrence, Shawnee, Manhattan, Salina, Lenexa
Kentucky KY: Ashland, Bowling Green, Covington, Elizabethtown, Florence, Louisville, Lexington, Owensboro, Frankfort, Paducah, Richmond, Radcliff, Henderson
Louisiana LA: New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Metairie, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Kenner, Bossier City, Monroe, Sulphur
Massachusetts MA: Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Lowell, Cambridge, Brockton, New Bedford, Fall River, Lynn, Quincy
Maryland MD: Baltimore, Columbia, Silver Spring, Dundalk, Wheaton-Glenmont, Ellicott City, Germantown, Germantown
Bethesda, Frederick, Gaithersburg
Maine ME: Portland, Lewiston, Bangor, South Portland, Auburn, Biddeford, Brunswick, Sanford, Augusta, Laplace
Michigan MI: Detroit, Grand Rapids, Warren, Sterling Heights, Flint, Lansing, Ann Arbor, Livonia, Clinton, Dearborn
Minnesota MN: Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth, Rochester, Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Plymouth, Eagan, Coon Rapids, Burnsville
Missouri MO: Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, Independence, Columbia, St. Joseph, Lee's Summit, St. Charles, Florissant, St. Peters
Mississippi MS: Jackson, Gulfport, Biloxi, Hattiesburg, Greenville, Meridan, Tupelo, Southaven, Vicksburg, Pascagoula
Montana MT: Billings, Missoula, Great Falls, Butte-Silver Bow, Bozeman, Helena, , , ,
North Carolina NC: Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Durham, Winston-Salem, Fayetteville, Cary, Wilmington, High Point, Asheville
North Dakota ND: Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, Minot, , , , , ,
Nebraska NE: Lincoln, Bellevue, Grand Island, Kearney, Fremont, Hastings, North Platte, Norfolk, Columbus, Papillion
New Hampshire NH: Manchester, Nashua, Concord, Rochester, Dover, Derry, Kenne, Portsmouth, ,
New Jersey NJ: Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, Elizabeth, Edison, Toms River, Trenton, Camden, Clifton, Brick Township
New Mexico NM: Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Santa Fe, Rio Rancho, Roswell, South Valley, Farmington, Alamogordo, Clovis, Hobbs
Nevada NV: Las Vegas, Henderson, Paradise, Reno, Sunrise Manor, North Las Vegas, Spring Valley, Sparks, Carson City, Pahrump
New York NY: New York, Buffalo, Rochester, Yonkers, Syracuse, Albany, Cheektowaga, New Rochelle, Mount Vernon, Schenectady
Ohio OH: Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo, Akron, Dayton, Parma, Youngstown, Canton, Lorain
Oklahoma OK: Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Norman, Lawton, Broken Arrow, Edmond, Midwest City, Enid, Moore, Stillwater
Oregon OR: Portland, Eugene, Salem, Gresham, Beaverton, Hillsboro, Medford, Springfield, Bend, Corvallis
Pennsylvania PA: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie, Reading, Scranton, Bethlehem, Lancaster, Levittown, Altoona
South Carolina SC: Columbia, Charleston, North Charleston, Greenville, Rock Hill, Mount Pleasant, Spartanburg, Sumter, Hilton Head Island, Florence
South Dakota SD: Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Aberdeen, Watertown, Pierre,
Tennessee TN: Memphis, Nashville (-Davidson), Knoxville, Chattanooga, Clarksville, Murfreesboro, Jackson, Johnson City, Kingsport, Franklin
Texas TX: Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, El Paso, Fort Worth, Arlington, Corpus Christi, Plano, Garland
Utah UT: Salt Lake City, West Valley City, Provo, Sandy, Orem, West Jordan, Ogden, Taylosville, St. George, Murray
Virginia VA: Virginia each, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Richmond, Arlington, Newport News, Hampton, Alexandria, Portsmouth, Roanoke
Vermont VT: Burlington, Rutland, Montpelier,
Washington WA: Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, Vancouver, Bellevue, Everett, Federal Way, Spokane Valley, Yakima, Kent
Wisconsin WI: Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha, Racine, Appleton, Waukesha, Oshkosh, Eau Claire, West Allis
West Virginia WV: Charleston, Huntington, Parkersburg, Wheeling, Morgantown, Weirton
Wyoming WY: Cheyenne, Casper, Laramie, Gillette

Last updated on: 05/17/2007 04:54 AM

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