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Identity
theft has become a major U.S. crime threat. Thousands
of people are victimized every year by ruined credit records
and even resulting in criminal records pointing towards
the victim’s identity. The FTC has said that identity
theft has exceeded all other forms of fraud. Over 750,000
people were affected last
year and thousands more don’t even know they were
hit.
Businesses
Responsibility: Identity theft is not your
bosses problem, however, an employee struggling to get
their life in order after being victimized will surely
be distracted, spend company time, use company phones,
Go to court, come in late and leave early to get their
identity straightened out. It is estimated that the average
victim spends more that 500 hours and up to $20,000 before
restoring their ID. Employee training heads this off.
Fundamentals:
From a name, address, phone, birth date, Social Security
(SS) number, mother’s maiden name, bank account number,
credit card number, driver’s license, plate number
or utility bill, a thief can make a few phone calls, do
an online search and become you.
Little
Defense: Pick pocketing, shoulder surfing and
dumpster diving are covert ways of obtaining info, but
registry clerks, medical filers, property management filers,
bankers, utility company employees or any venue where
you are required to give out your SS number for services
are the weakest links in your ability to conceal your
ID. Dishonest employees sell lists of SS numbers for cash.
Going
Postal: Postal address forms can be filled
out and your mail redirected to a criminals PO Box. Incoming
and outgoing mail have everything a criminal needs. Credit
card offers and loan applications have proprietary information
that just requires a signature. Stolen mail might never
be missed, giving the thief a head start.
Phone
Fraud: Predators call congratulating you on
winning prizes and trips, others say you hit their auto
in a
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parking
lot or they found something of yours with identity on
it and ask you to confirm your SS number.
Head
Start: On average it takes a person 12 to
16 months to realize they have been victimized. Some
thieves will pay off debt for up to a year to get larger
increases on loans and credit cards, then cash in when
the big loans and limits come in.
Here
is just a sampling, first develop a first name basis
relationship with the postal staff in your town. If
they see something that doesn’t make sense they
may be the first to notify you. Get a locking mailbox.
Never put outgoing mail in the mailbox. Get a shredder
and shred everything with a name, account number and
address. Make an effort to pay all bills online and
request online billing statements.
Pay
Attention: Bills
for items you never purchased, calls from credit card
companies increasing your credit lines, calls from bill
collectors looking for payments, mail for other people
than yourself in the form of credit card statements
or loans. An unusual amount of direct mail from a particular
brand or product line; this represents a large purchase
on behalf of the thief putting you on a direct mail
list regarding their purchase.
Be
Discreet: It is not necessary to give out
your SS number as much as you think. Only give it out
if it is absolutely necessary. Deal only with established
vendors with solid backgrounds. Never give out your
mothers maiden name unless absolutely necessary.
Credit
Check: The catch 22 in checking your credit
report is that excessive inquiries into your credit
lower your scores making you less able to get loans
for cars or homes. However, quarterly, semi or annually
checking your credit will make you aware of activity
regarding you SS number.
If
Victimized: Contact the fraud departments
of all 3 major credit bureaus and they flag your SS
number. Cancel all credit cards affected by theft. Notify
local authorities.
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Contact:
Street
Safe Security
PO Box 15145 - Boston, MA 02215
Phone: 800.2.GET.SAFE - Fax: 877.2FAX.NOW
E-mail: Robert@SecuritySpeaker.com
Web site: http://www.StreetSafeSecurity.com
Article copyright 2002. Robert Siciliano is a Boston
based Professional Speaker, Personal Security Consultant
and president of 3 security related companies. He is
certified under the guidelines of the Massachusetts
Board of Nursing to train healthcare workers on personal
safety. He has 18 years of security training in martial
arts, personal body-guarding, bar-room bouncing and
observing the human condition. He is the author of 2
books including The SafetyMinute: How to be safe on
the streets, at home and abroad so you can save your
life! His seminar topics include; Safe Travel Security,
ID Theft Security, Workplace Violence, Nurse Security,
Realty Security, Self Defense, Children Security
and Public School Security. Robert has appeared in Mademoiselle,
Good Housekeeping, Consumer Digest, the NY Post, and
Boston Herald, on national TV on CNN, the Montel Williams,
Sally Jessy Raphael, Howard Stern, David Brenner, and
the Maury Povich talk shows. Reach him at www.IDTheftSecurity.com
e-mail Robert@SafetyMinute.com or call 1 800 2 GET SAFE
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