Identity theft prevention way outs explained

Approximately 10 million Americans became the victim of identity theft last year according to Federal Trade Commission. Although in most of cases results of identity theft are not out of pocket expenses for the victims of identity thefts but it is most stressful and time consuming process to clear your name after an identity theft.

The process of undoing the damage due to identity theft can be both complicated and disruptive as well. You have to notify lots of people including creditors, credit bureaus and law enforcement. Some times it can take months or years to clear name of identity theft. There are some steps you can take to avoid to become the victims of identity theft:

1. Be sure that no one is watching or noticing your activities when entering your PIN number, your credit card number at an ATM, phone booth or on a computer you are using.


2. Be careful while using Social Security Number and don’t carry your Social Security Number in your wallet and never print the number to your personal checks.


3. Use your Social Security number only when it’s absolutely necessary.


4. Keep your computer safe and never use easily guessed PINs or passwords. When you are creating passwords, do not forget to include numbers with letters.


5. Check your financial statements including your credit card statements, bank statements and phone bills for inaccuracies and unauthorized use. In case you get some discrepancies, immediately notify your creditors.


6. Get your free copy of credit report from all of major credit agencies using www.annulacreditreport.com once every year and check them carefully for inaccuracy and for any kind of disputes.


7. Be very careful when sharing your personal information with an individual you don’t know and avoid talking about your financial matters with public around


8. Do not carry your checkbook with you and if required carry one or two blank checks with you in your wallet.


9. Do not carry all of your credit cards when you go out or are in the public. Keep one or two credit cards with you and keep the rest at home.


10. You should be extra cautious when using an ATM machine. Please not that anyone is around you when you are using ATM machine.


11. When you are using your credit card for online payments, be sure that the sites via which you are making the purchase are using SSC technology.


12. Destroy documents containing personal information like your credit card receipts and pre-approved credit applications.


13. Never use common numbers like your birth date, last four digits of your social security number, your phone number, your house number or any other number related to you as your ATM password. If you have done so, I would suggest you to change that immediately.