Bloggeron

Many scams are so high-tech we can’t even begin to comprehend how they work. I’ve had my identity stolen and want to give you some tips to prevent identity theft.

1. Don’t carry unnecessary information with you. When my identity was stolen I had 12 credit cards and my social security card in my wallet. Bad idea.
2. Don’t give out any personal information over the phone. No honorable company will ask you for personal information over the phone. Also, there are no companies will ask you for information in an email.
3. Whenever you use a debit or credit card anywhere, always push the yellow clear button (until it beeps) before and after your transaction. There’s a scam right now where thieves somehow obtain the last information entered and stored.
4. When standing in line at a store, be aware of those standing behind you. It’s been known that thieves, talking on a cell phone, are really taking pictures of the ID you’re holding in your hand.
5. Always pick up your new checks at the bank.
6. Make sure your mailbox is secure. Thieves go out late at night and steal everything in an open mailbox.
7. Opt out of all credit card offers. This one is big. This is probably the easiest job a criminal has.
8. Think about getting identity theft protection. This will prevent identity theft completely. After my identity was stolen, I obtained identity theft prevention and have never looked back. When you have a lot to lose, it’s probably the best option.

Identity theft makes you feel so violated. This is why it’s important to understand how to prevent identity theft. It seems we need to remain more and more cautious about things we’ve always taken for granted.

With the outrageous rate of this trend, someday we will all have to wonder who we’re speaking to. I’m in favor of alerting as many people as possible because I want to erase this problem from the face of this earth. So if we all worked together to prevent identity theft we could possibly eradicate this crime.

Fortunately, a new law was passed in 2004 requiring tougher penalties for criminals convicted of identity theft. The new penalty now carries a 2 year prison sentence. How can you slap a crook on the hand while your finances and possibly reputations are in shambles? Please help prevent identity theft.