Protecting Your Good Name: Identity Theft Help

There are many ways and methods that individuals can be victimized through theft. For example automobiles can be broken into and GPS or video systems can be stolen. Or homes can be invaded and personal possessions can be taken.

However, a new wave of being victimized through theft is identity theft. Therefore, to guard against this type of personal invasion and to know where to get identity theft help it is important to know what identity theft is, how to prevent identity theft and where to get identity theft help.

What Is Identity Theft?

Before one begins to look for identity theft help it is important to know what are identity theft facts. Identity theft is that criminal action when one unscrupulous individual obtains private and personal information from an unsuspecting individual.

The purpose of these actions is to then utilize that information to activate new charge cards or credit cards. Once these cards have been activated the thief utilizes the cards to purchase all sorts of merchandise.

This stolen merchandise can be purchased in retail stores or by going online. In addition, some identity thieves will try to gain access to an individual's checking or savings account.

Also, in addition to running up balances on bogus credit cards, the unsuspecting individual who is a victim of identity theft often doesn't know that their identity has been stolen. Generally, these unsuspecting individuals don't find out until creditors begin to call and damage has been done to their good credit. Often, it takes years and financial resources to undo the damage that has been caused.

Preventing Identity Theft

Obtaining personal and private information can be obtained by identity thieves from unsuspecting individual in a number ways. Some of those ways include the thieves going through an individual's trash or mailbox to obtain credit card offers.

Other sophisticated identity theft schemes include tricking people into giving sensitive information. This can happen when some schemers will send an e-mail to individuals asking them to contact a fake website and provide sensitive information. That sensitive information can include PIN numbers, account numbers, Social Security numbers, etc.

Another way that identity theft thieves get personal information is through phone calls. Often these crooks pose as representatives from banks or credit card companies and ask for confidential information. It is important to note that most financial institutions will never ask for this information especially utilizing the phone.

Where To Get Identity Theft Help To Prevent Theft

There are many resources that are available to get identity theft help. Some of those resources include credit card companies, commercial banks, internet web sites, etc.

Often these resources provide written materials and provide practical tips on identify theft help. In addition, most internet sites have increased their security measures and ask that the users of the web sites use complicated passwords. Generally, these passwords are a combination of letters, numbers and symbols. In addition, these websites ask specific questions that only the user knows when a different computer is used to log into the financial web site.

One other service offered to aid in identity theft help is a monthly subscription service that alerts the subscriber when any inquiries are made on an individual's account. This identity theft help is a fee based service provided by internet companies.

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