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Identity Thieves: They Steal More Than Your Money
Picture this...
You are at a department store checkout and the cashier asks if you'd like to get pre-approved for a store credit card. "You'd get 20% off your purchase," the cashier says. How can you say no? You know you have great credit, so you're sure you'll get approved. You fill out the form and wait patiently while the cashier calls for pre-approval of your new credit card. A few moments later, the cashier comes back and apologizes... we couldn't get approval. "There must be some mistake," you say. "I have great credit!" The fact is...you used to have great credit. Not only has someone ruined your credit and good name...they've stolen your identity.
Think you're just another face in the crowd? Not to an identity thief. Could you keep this from happening to you? Probably not. If someone is so determined to steal your identity, they might be able to follow through. But there is good news. There are ways to lessen that risk, by not easily giving out your personal information, and questioning every reason for having to do so.
Identity theft alone is one reason to order your credit report immediately. Identity theft is an insidious crime, involving a thief who assumes your name to open new accounts, divert your card statements to another address, and run up all sorts of bad debt without you ever knowing about it until collectors come calling. Over time, identity theft could jeopardize your ability to obtain further credit. The best way to catch a thief who is using your name is by getting a copy of your credit report, which will show you if there are accounts listed you know you haven't opened. For example, if a thief has intercepted a pre-approved credit card offer in your name and sent it in with a change of address, your credit report will include the account.
We hope the following information informs you and protects you/or helps you to recover from identity theft.
Some quick tips: If you've been a victim of identity theft, you can call the FTC's Identity Theft Hotline toll-free at 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338). If you suspect that someone else is using your social security number (SSN) for work or some other purpose, or if you have received notice from the Internal Revenue Service of unreported taxable income that is not yours, you should report the problem to the Social Security Administration by calling 1-800-772-1213.
Visit the following Internet sites for more information on how to prevent and recover from Identity Theft:
The books below deal with Identity Theft - Stay informed! Use Amazon.com's secure server to order:
 Identity Theft the cybercrime of the millennium: John Q. Newman. Buy it now through Amazon.com's secure server!
Click HERE or on the image of the books to give this gift to yourself or someone else!
From Victim To Victor: A Step-By-Step Guide For Ending The Nightmare of Identity Theft: Mari Frank. Buy it now through Amazon.com's secure server!
Click HERE or on the image of the books to give this gift to yourself or someone else!
The information on this website is provided as a courtesy to My ParenTime's Family Community visitors, and is for educational purposes only.
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