10 Tips for Identity Theft Prevention, Cont’d

In my previous article, I gave you the first 5 tips to help prevent from being a victim. Did you apply any of those tips to your life? I hope you have taken action to complete all of them. You will gain peace of mind.

Here are the next 5 tips:

1. Rethink check writing: That little slip of paper has way too much information. Some experts advise against check writing because it gives away your address, bank account number, signature and license number to complete strangers. On top of that, there’s no federal legislation to limit your liability for forged checks (each state has its own set of rules). Experts advise that you look into automating your bill paying. You want to avoid becoming an identity theft victim. If you do become one, there is help for identity theft victims. Services that provide identity theft insurance coverage can help save you time and money restoring your identity. Read about it here.



2. Cover-up your vehicle identification number (VIN): People have been known to get the VIN from atop of the vehicle’s dash board. They would use the VIN to order new vehicle keys and later steal the vehicle using the new keys. Criminal acts can then be completed using the stolen vehicle, yet the true owner gets the blame for the crime.



3. Managing credit freeze to avoid identity theft gets easier: You can put a freeze on your credit reports which is called the credit freeze or also known as the security freeze. When you place a freeze on your credit reports, credit card issuers, lenders and others can’t check your credit history. Without that information, they won’t issue credit. And that also means criminals can’t set up new accounts in your name. This service is great identity theft protection.



4. Secure your mail: Your mailbox is a goldmine of information. Between bank statement, bills, and all those pre-approved credit card offers, your mailbox is loaded with personal data which identity thieves can use to easily apply for a credit card in your name. Unless you diligently check your credit report, you may never even know about it. One way to avoid this is to have your mailbox under lock and key. The other solution is to have a rented mailbox. To foil “dumpster-diving” thieves, buy a shredder and destroy documents before discarding. Take action on this tip and add to it identity theft insurance coverage, IDT Insurance.



5. Create an emergency identity kit: Would you know how to contact your credit card company in an emergency? Create an emergency kit that contains: your account number, expiration date, issuing company name, and emergency contact number for each card you own. While you’re at it, make copies of your driver’s license, social security card, birth certificate and passport and store them in a locked box or file cabinet, or a safe deposit box. Quick action on this tip can be a great protection from identity theft.

Many of us forget that were it not for what we carry in our wallets or in our purses, we’re all John and Jane Doe’s if we can’t speak due to injury or are unaccompanied by someone who knows us. For some of us, that is a good reason why we carry our social security numbers in our wallets or purses. But, we don’t think about having identity theft coverage.

Even after you observe all of these tips for identity theft prevention, you may still become a victim. What can you do as a victim of the identity theft crime? To find the answer this question, Click here.