The Three D's of Identity Theft

Yes it's true.  I'm getting older.  I've been removed from high school for more than a decade and the last college course I took was in the 90's.  However, I always try to learn something on a daily basis (and thanks to my fellow AR addicts, I do).  While it has been some time since I was in a formal educational setting, one thing I remember from my Writing class was the "Five W's (and One H)".  It was pretty much the basis of all the articles and short stories I wrote.  It's the building blocks of all great writing:  novels, news articles, movies, and even blogs! 

But I'm not here to give a lesson on how to use this fundamental foundation to help you Rainers write better blogs or get started on the novel or self help book you've been planning.  No, I'm here to talk about a new set of alliteration.  The "Three D's (and One H)"of Identity Theft:  Deter, Detect, and Defend.  And as a bonus, reprising his role, the magnificent How!

1.  Deter Identity Theft by safeguarding your information:

• Shred all personal information
• Protect your Social Security number
• Don't give out personal information to strangers
• Never click links on unsolicited emails
• Don't create passwords with obvious information
• Keep your personal information PERSONAL.

2.  Detect suspicious activity by monitoring your finances:

• Be aware of bills that do not arrive at all
• Unexpected account statements and bills
• Denials of credit that you didn't apply for
• Follow calls or letters regarding purchases you never made
• Inspect your credit report yearly, if not every 6 months
• Review your credit card and bank statements regularly

3.  Defend against Identity Theft ASAP:

• Place a Fraud Alert on your credit report
• Close accounts that were fraudulently opened
• File a police report
• Contact the FTC and report the theft to them

4.  How Identity Theft Happens:

• Dumpster Diving - Finding personal information in the trash
• Skimming - Stealing credit/debit card numbers by using a special storage device when processing your card
• Phishing - Sending BOGUS emails pretending to be legitimate lending institutions or businesses tp get you to send them your information
• Changing Your Address - They divert your mail to another address by completing a "change of address" form
• Stealing - They steal wallets and purses as well as mail directly from the mailbox.  Some of them even steal your sensitive information from their employers

There's no end all be all to preventing ID Theft.  The best you can do to prevent this from happening to you is being cautious and taking the necessary precautions to keep it from happening to you.  And if you are unfortunate to be a victim of this CRIME, contact your local law enforcement agency, the FTC, and of course the creditor and the bureaus!