When she’s not reading or writing, she’s probably hiking, eating brunch, or planning her next great adventure. While identity theft seems all-consuming, it is important to acknowledge the other parts of your life that this crime has not touched. 5 Ways Of Losing Your Identity With Credit Reports, Never carry more than one credit card with you at a time, Always, always sign credit and other cards as soon as you receive them, Keep your social security card safe at all times and never carry it with you, Do not record your PIN number on your card or otherwise carry it upon your person, Always shred anything that has your PIN or social security number on it, Shred any and all documents which contain your credit card number, Check receipts to ensure that you received your own and not someone else’s, If you do not receive your credit card statement then contact the issuer in case someone else has acquired it, Never leave spare keys for your house or apartment outside of your property, Use a safe in your home, or safety deposit box at your bank, for storing sensitive personal information, Ensure your computer system is secure. Make sure to provide as much evidence to them as possible and request a copy of the report for your records. Millions of Americans are victims of this crime every year, and billions of dollars are lost because of it. Finally, some victims find a gift in identity theft. Take Control & Wipe Out the Fear of Identity Theft. Identity theft can happen to anyone. Identity theft is simply a term used to depict a crime or fraudulent activity that results in the loss as well as not permitted utilization of your key pieces of personal or business information such as credit card, debit card, ATM cards, user name and password, relevant banking and financial data, and social security number. Guidelines to Overcome Identity Theft At the present time, people become victims of identity theft in epidemic numbers. From retail to tech writer @McAfee, via a bit of blogging, a sprinkling of conferences and a dash of public speaking. Here are 13 suggestions that may help you to lessen the risk of identity theft –. Also include any letters or communication from your lenders verifying the fraudulent activity. Tip: Keep a log of all of the phone calls you make, the names of the people you talk to, the date and time you speak to them, emails you send, etc. Essentially, thieves use your identifying information like your name and social security number to open credit cards or other lines of credit. Fixing your credit after identity theft can take considerable time. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10 NKJV). Trying to clean up your credit after experiencing identity theft can be overwhelming, but the problem is too important and far too expensive for you to ignore. They find an If you think your identity has been stolen, you’ll need to take the appropriate steps to report the identity theft and begin the recovery process. Actively monitoring your credit means you’ll be alerted quickly to changes and potentially devastating problems like identity theft. What Are The Facts You Need To Know About Identity Theft? To learn more about how Lexington Law can help you overcome the damage, schedule a consultation here. If you haven’t yet discovered you’ve been a victim of identity theft, the first place you’re likely to find out about unsavory activity in your name is on your credit report. The last thing you want to have to do is go through it again. The consequences are vast, and the sooner you catch fraudulent activity and react, the better. A fraud alert lasts one year and monitors the activity on your credit reports. If they are unable to, the application will be flagged and reported as fraud. Pay close attention to fraudulent charges on your individual accounts as well. They are obligated to then contact the remaining two on your behalf. 1 Reporting the theft to the right agencies is critical. If your identity was certainly stolen, you will need to file an Identity Theft Affidavit and create an identity theft report. Identity theft can damage your credit in many ways. Protection Against Satan’s Identity Theft How to overcome the image, name, and number of the beast “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Identify Theft Bureau should be the first agency you contact. You can view your credit report for free once a year at AnnualCreditReport.com. You are entitled to one after placing a fraud alert on your credit report. If one of your accounts was compromised, your entire identity might not be at risk. Equifax Equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services 800-685-1111, Experian Experian.com/help 888-EXPERIAN (888-397-3742), Transunion TransUnion.com/credit-help 888-909-8872. Make sure progress is still happening on your case, even if they haven’t caught the responsible party yet. Follow up on your credit repair and police report by contacting the credit bureaus, local police, and your lenders. Modern-day criminals no longer need to resort to violence, robbery or burglary to gain access to your money. Never carry more than one credit card with you at a time. Check your credit report. However, these efforts are being hindered by a rampant identity theft problem that the nation is facing. Since time is of the essence when dealing with identity theft, the best approach is probably to file a complaint online or over the phone.