How to protect yourself from identity theft

You remember Todd Davis, CEO of LifeLock, Inc. who publicly posted his social security number on billboards, buses and television, don’t you?  Well, it seems that he has been the victim of  identity theft at least 13 times and has agreed to pay 12 million (yes, 12 with 6 zeros after it) to the FTC to settle charges that the company overstated benefits and used scare tactics to gain subscribers.

According to this article from PC World:

One of LifeLock’s ads said its service prevented ID theft from “ever happening to you. Guaranteed.” But the FTC knows of “several hundred” LifeLock customers who were victims of ID theft after subscribing to the service, Leibowitz said during a press conference in Chicago.

“There is nothing you can do or purchase that will provide you with a 100 percent guarantee against being a victim of identity theft,” said Lisa Madigan, attorney general for Illinois. “But that doesn’t mean you should do nothing.”

Exactly.  That doesn’t mean you should do nothing.  So, what can you do to minimize your chances of becoming an identity theft victim?  Glad you asked.

How does my identity get stolen?

Your identity can be stolen in a variety of ways, including right from your computer.  Phishing scams, in which people are urged to respond to an email with personal information lest their credit cards, bank accounts, or other services are ‘placed on hold’.  The person sends account information and the next thing they know, they are a victim.

Another way is spyware, bad software on your computer that is downloaded from the internet either without your knowledge, or part of that new, free game.  This software sends personal information to another computer, sometimes every key you type.  Now, they have your bank, your user name and password information.  Cha-ching.

They can also hack into companies you do business with.  You really can’t control that except to do all you can to do business with reputable companies, especially over the internet.

What can I do about it?

First of all, get some good anti-virus, anti-spyware software on your computer, pronto.  Also, sign up for that subscription that keeps it up-to-date.  Believe me, it is worth the 20 or so bucks a year to help protect you.

Second, when you get that email from your bank, credit card company, insurance company, etc. do not click on anything and delete it! Call the company if you are in doubt and deal directly with them.  If you get a phone call from someone asking to verify your account number or other personal information, hang up.  Unless you initiated the call, they don’t need it.

If you want to use an identity theft prevention service, be sure to check them out and find out exactly what is promised.  Will they help you lock your credit report?  Will they help you clear fraudulent entries from your credit report?  Will they pay for what you’ve lost?

Things you can do yourself

Check your credit report every year, it’s free from AnnualCreditReport.com.  There are credit report monitoring services that you can use to see changes in your credit report and score monthly.  These are not free, but they do allow you to more closely monitor your credit to see if an unauthorized change has been made and get it fixed quickly.

Your bank may offer ‘virtual’ credit card numbers.  These are a one-time use number that you enter in place of your real card number.  If a thief gets hold of this after you’ve used it, it’s useless.

Always review your bank and credit card statements.  Thieves have a device called a skimmer they can use to steal your credit card numbers any time you hand your card over.

Also check your insurance statements for medical insurance claims you didn’t make and check your medical records.

Get a good cross-cut shredder.  Before throwing anything away that has personal information, shred it first.  Thieves will not hesitate to go through your trash.

So, bottom line is be aware of your finances, be suspicious when asked for personal information, and keep an eye on your credit report.

More information can be found at the FTC’s Identity Theft site.

.

More from MuskogeeUSA

• How to copy Wii games for personal use
• How to work from home without getting scammed
• To tip or not to tip, that is the question
• How to create your own iPhone app without knowing how to program
• How to make your wife feel loved: Give yourself | MuskogeeUSA

MuskogeeUSA Recommends

• How to Get Rid of Love Handles  (Cool Biking Zone)
• How to Grow Your Own Plants From Cuttings  (gbronner)
• How To Choose Your Child’s 1st BMX Bicycle  (Cool Biking Zone)
• How to Be Green  (U.S. Green Technology)
• How To Buy A Mountain Bike  (Cool Biking Zone)

Ask MuskogeeUSA To Recommend Your Posts

Share on Facebook

Possibly Related Posts:

• Is Lawn Chair Millionaire a scam?
• Have old gold? Now may be the time to sell
• All paychecks go to government first? Don’t let IRS see this!
• Let’s try MY stimulus plan
• How to work from home without getting scammed