Comprehensive List of Steps Needed to Prevent Identity Theft

<h1>Comprehensive List of Steps Needed to Prevent Identity Theft</h1>Author: <a title="John Ritchie" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/authors/john-ritchie/69639.htm">John Ritchie</a> This is the fifth in a series of articles which will increase your awareness about  Identity Theft.
Have you been hearing and reading reports about the crime of Identity Theft?  
 
Do you have any idea what Identity Theft is?
 
What is Identity Theft?
 
It is the stealing of items of your personal information such as your social security number, Drivers  license number, address, phone number, debit card details, credit card details, bank account numbers, and even your mother’s maiden name, with the intention of using this information to defraud you and make money for the person who is perpetrating the crime.
 
 
You need to exercise extreme care at all times to protect all of your personal information. Only by being very careful at all times, can you expect to avoid becoming a victim of Identity Theft.
 
How can you prevent yourself from identity theft? Here are a few suggestions. More suggestions can be found in other articles that I have written on the subject of Identity Theft. See website below for further information.
 
When You are at Home:
 
• If you have roommates or visitors, or in some cases members of your family living with you, make sure that you keep your personal information secure at all times. I am not saying that these people will attempt to steal identity items from you, but there have been numerable cases that have been prosecuted, where the instigator has been close to the family and well known to the family.
 
• Place your outgoing mail in the post office collection box or else mail it at the nearest post office, rather than put it in your mail box, which can be accessed by anyone who wishes to do so. Remove your incoming mail from your mailbox as soon as practically possible. If you are going to be away from home, have the post office hold your mail until you return.
 
• Destroy all your documents that you receive in the mail, after you have dealt with them, including junk mail items that may have credit or personal information on them, such as credit card company solicitations. If you are able destroy this information by shredding.
 
If you are at Work:
 
• You may be requested to provide personal information. Enquire as to how this information is to be used and what kind of security is in place. You do not want your personal data left lying around in an office where prying eyes can acquire it.
 
On the Internet:
 
• If you are contemplating business transactions online, read thoroughly about the confidentiality of the website. Make sure you are giving any personal information to someone who is going to maintain it securely. If in doubt, do not provide the information.
 
• You should consider using your Pay Pal account whenever possible to make payments to third parties. This will protect the credit card information that you might otherwise be needed to provide.
 
• Avoid giving your personal data over the telephone, via email, or online unless you have initiated the contact or you already know the person with whom you are doing business.
 
In conclusion, always be alert. If someone asks for your personal information, be it a friend, acquaintance, or  business, ask the reason why they want it from you and how they will protect it if provided.
 
John Ritchie,
Copyright to this article belongs to John Ritchie.   
 
<a href="http://www.johnritchieonline.com " title="home"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.johnritchieonline.com">http://www.johnritchieonline.com</a> </a> 
For more detailed information on Identity Theft, and to sign up for our 5 part e-course, go to <a href="http://www.johnritchieonline.com " title="id"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.johnritchieonline.com">http://www.johnritchieonline.com</a> </a>.
You may download and distribute this article freely and without restrictions. You must not, however, delete the resource box link.
 
About the Author: He spent over 17 years in the banking industry in the U.K and then a further 8 years in Canada. For the last 20 years he was a senior executive for two private sector companies. He was chief operating officer and chief financial officer for the first company and the Quality Manager and General Manager, for a company which was ISO registered. As a recently retired Canadian Small Business advisor and mentor, he is moving his attention into the internet world of small business, where his past experience and knowledge, will prove of significant value and will grow as he learns how the internet business world thinks and works. He has undertaken an internet joint venture with three colleagues that he has met through a membership site in 2007 and intends to expand his horizons during 2008.Article Source: <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/">ArticlesBase.com</a> - <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/home-business-articles/comprehensive-list-of-steps-needed-to-prevent-identity-theft-558173.html" title="Comprehensive List of Steps Needed to Prevent Identity Theft">Comprehensive List of Steps Needed to Prevent Identity Theft</a>

This is the fifth in a series of articles which will increase your awareness about Identity Theft.

Have you been hearing and reading reports about the crime of Identity Theft?

Do you have any idea what Identity Theft is?

What is Identity Theft?

It is the stealing of items of your personal information such as your social security number, Drivers license number, address, phone number, debit card details, credit card details, bank account numbers, and even your mother’s maiden name, with the intention of using this information to defraud you and make money for the person who is perpetrating the crime.

You need to exercise extreme care at all times to protect all of your personal information. Only by being very careful at all times, can you expect to avoid becoming a victim of Identity Theft.

How can you prevent yourself from identity theft? Here are a few suggestions. More suggestions can be found in other articles that I have written on the subject of Identity Theft. See website below for further information.

When You are at Home:

• If you have roommates or visitors, or in some cases members of your family living with you, make sure that you keep your personal information secure at all times. I am not saying that these people will attempt to steal identity items from you, but there have been numerable cases that have been prosecuted, where the instigator has been close to the family and well known to the family.

• Place your outgoing mail in the post office collection box or else mail it at the nearest post office, rather than put it in your mail box, which can be accessed by anyone who wishes to do so. Remove your incoming mail from your mailbox as soon as practically possible. If you are going to be away from home, have the post office hold your mail until you return.

• Destroy all your documents that you receive in the mail, after you have dealt with them, including junk mail items that may have credit or personal information on them, such as credit card company solicitations. If you are able destroy this information by shredding.

If you are at Work:

• You may be requested to provide personal information. Enquire as to how this information is to be used and what kind of security is in place. You do not want your personal data left lying around in an office where prying eyes can acquire it.

On the Internet:

• If you are contemplating business transactions online, read thoroughly about the confidentiality of the website. Make sure you are giving any personal information to someone who is going to maintain it securely. If in doubt, do not provide the information.

• You should consider using your Pay Pal account whenever possible to make payments to third parties. This will protect the credit card information that you might otherwise be needed to provide.

• Avoid giving your personal data over the telephone, via email, or online unless you have initiated the contact or you already know the person with whom you are doing business.

In conclusion, always be alert. If someone asks for your personal information, be it a friend, acquaintance, or business, ask the reason why they want it from you and how they will protect it if provided.

John Ritchie,

http://www.johnritchieonline.com

For more detailed information on Identity Theft, and to sign up for our 5 part e-course, go to http://www.johnritchieonline.com .

You may download and distribute this article freely and without restrictions. You must not, however, delete the resource box link.

He spent over 17 years in the banking industry in the U.K and then a further 8 years in Canada. For the last 20 years he was a senior executive for two private sector companies. He was chief operating officer and chief financial officer for the first company and the Quality Manager and General Manager, for a company which was ISO registered. As a recently retired Canadian Small Business advisor and mentor, he is moving his attention into the internet world of small business, where his past experience and knowledge, will prove of significant value and will grow as he learns how the internet business world thinks and works. He has undertaken an internet joint venture with three colleagues that he has met through a membership site in 2007 and intends to expand his horizons during 2008.

Rate this Article:

0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s)

Re-Publish

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-business-articles/comprehensive-list-of-steps-needed-to-prevent-identity-theft-558173.html

Related Articles
Related Q&A

Latest Home Business Articles
More from John Ritchie

Exactly Were to Find the Hottest Jobs for 2012 and Beyond!

By: Brent Vanderstelt | 28/12/2009
The most jobs in 2012 and beyond will come from the direct selling industry as more and more people are deciding to take control of their own financial futures and starting home based businesses.

Looking For An Immense Source Of Income? What About Making Money Online?

By: Alan Lim | 28/12/2009
Whether it is celebrating the festival of Christmas or meeting some financial needs, both of them require you to be financially sound. But, what if your mere amount of salary doesn’t allow you to do the same? Just, look for some extraordinary sources such as making money online.

HowTo Increase Sales Through Strategic Internet Marketing

By: tomer | 28/12/2009
millions of websites out there being visited by millions of computer users, how can you make sure that your ad can be seen by your target customers and that your leads will be followed by these users? Here are a few tips.

Roulette Sniper Unlock Code

By: Jimmy Sturo | 28/12/2009
roulette sniper unlock code

Sacramento California WOW Mobile

By: Scott Crider | 28/12/2009
You are missing out on a great business building tool if you are not using Mikogo. We support a local homebase business group in the Sacramento, California. All are welcome to join and we will help you to establish a network in your own community.

Ivybot Torrent

By: Jimmy Sturo | 28/12/2009
ivybot torrent

Ivybot Scam

By: Jimmy Sturo | 28/12/2009
ivybot scam

the secrets of opt-in lists

By: tomer | 28/12/2009
No doubt emails are being used to distribute news letters, promotional mails, and other stuff. How then would you be able to round up email addresses to send those marketing mails you have? Here is where an opt-in list comes in.

Read email programs

By: John Ritchie | 06/09/2009 | Home Business
Some of you have joined “read email” programs because most of these programs have a FREE membership option, which will also pay you in cash for your efforts, once your income reaches a predetermined minimum level.Some of these programs will pay about 1 cent for each email that you read and some of them only permit you to earn from a few emails each day.Recently a newer group of companies have established themselves on the internet and they are offering substantially higher payments.

Identity Theft Caused From Using Stolen Credit Card Information

By: John Ritchie | 11/09/2008 | Home Business
The sixth in a series of informational articles entitled, Awareness of Identity Theft, This article covers problems faced by Identity Theft victims and should be read by anyone who has established a good credit rating or wishes to attain a good credit rating and is determined not to surrender it to Identity Theft.

Comprehensive List of Steps Needed to Prevent Identity Theft

By: John Ritchie | 11/09/2008 | Home Business
The fifth in a series of informational articles entitled, Awareness of Identity Theft, This article covers problems faced by Identity Theft victims and should be read by anyone who has established a good credit rating or wishes to attain a good credit rating and is determined not to surrender it to Identity Theft.

Combating Online Identity Theft

By: John Ritchie | 10/09/2008 | Home Business
The fourth in a series of informational articles entitled, Awareness of Identity Theft, This article covers problems faced by Identity Theft victims and should be read by anyone who has established a good credit rating or wishes to attain a good credit rating and is determined to keep that record in good standing.

Check Your Credit Report Regularly to Avoid Becoming a Victim of Identity Theft

By: John Ritchie | 08/09/2008 | Home Business
The third in a series of informational articles entitled, Awareness of Identity Theft, This article covers problems faced by Identity Theft victims and should be read by anyone who has established a good credit rating and is determined to keep that record in good standing.

Identity Theft Victim Finds Life is Now Tough

By: John Ritchie | 07/09/2008 | Home Business
The second in a series of informational articles entitled, Awareness of Identity Theft, This article covers problems faced by Identity Theft victims and should be read by anyone who has established a good credit rating and is determined to keep that record in good standing.

Training for Success With Your Internet Business, Article 10 Promotional Items

By: John Ritchie | 25/08/2008 | Home Business
The tenth in a series of training articles entitled, Training for Success with Your Internet Business, This article covers Promotional Items, and is a must read for all business owners, whether they are operating an on line home based business, or a regular home based business. The tips and suggestions are provided from real life situations as seen and experienced by the author.