Eight Steps you must take to prevent ID Theft

IDTHEFT

Millions become victims every 10 seconds in the US according to consumer reports. It is the  easiest crime perpetrated, and most of the perpetrators are never apprehended.

Therefore, it is extremely important that every person ensures their personal information is protected. 

Unfortunately some of the perpetrators are family members, close friends, employees etc.... those extremely close to you. Do not ever believe you are immune to it even if you have never been a victim. 

According to Consumer report, there are eight simple steps one can incorporate in your daily routine that will help you protect yourself. I'll give you four now and the rest in  tomorrow's blog. You do not need the so called ID THEFT prevention companies to do it for you. Besides, one cannot trust them either. Who knows, the employees could also steal your identity. Trust no one but yourself.

1. Get Serious, Not Scared

Don't let the horror stories freak you out. The worst-case scenario -- where someone opens new credit-card accounts or commits other crimes using your name, Social Security number, or other information -- is relatively uncommon. That nightmare happened to less than 1 percent of all U.S. households in 2005, according to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Justice. Half of that group resolved the problem, usually in less than a day to two weeks.

The most common form of ID theft isn't even what most people think of as ID theft. It's old-fashioned credit-card fraud and check-kiting, with someone fraudulently accessing your credit- or debit-card account. It affects about 4 percent of households. What's more, in most cases, your liability is legally limited, and credit-card issuers or banks pay the direct losses, not you. Most victims suffered no out-of-pocket costs last year; those who did lost only $373 on average, half the amount lost in 2007, Javelin says. That's well below the $1 million to $2 million guarantees that many identity-theft protection services trumpet to suggest that your losses could be catastrophic.

You can protect yourself by taking these low-tech, common-sense precautions:

• Never give your Social Security number or other information to strangers who call, text, or send e-mail messages to you, even if they seem legitimate, as with phony "phishing" e-mail that looks like it comes from your bank. And don't write your Social Security number on checks (except those you send to the IRS), noncredit applications, or other forms.

• Never leave your wallet or purse unattended. Don't carry your Social Security card, rarely used credit cards, or written PINs or passwords.

• Store financial account statements, medical records, and tax filings in a secure place at home, especially if you let workers or others inside, and shred those documents when you no longer need them.

• Don't post your date of birth, mother's maiden name, first pet's name, or other personal information on websites like Facebook, Flickr, Friendster, LinkedIn, MySpace, or Twitter. They're often used to verify your identity and could allow an imposter electronic access to your accounts.

• If your bank or credit-card issuer offers free online or mobile alerts that will warn you of suspicious account activity as soon as it's detected, sign up for them. The alerts are different from the expensive credit-monitoring services that banks also sell. (You don't need those.)

2. Place Security Freezes and Fraud Alerts

You can shut out ID thieves before they cause damage by placing a security freeze on your credit reports at all three major credit bureaus: Equifax (NYSE: EFX - News); Experian; and Transunion. It will prevent anyone from looking at your credit report except for the companies that already have a financial relationship with you, certain government agencies, and other exempt entities. To sign up for one, go to each bureau's home page and look for the security-freeze link.

If a lender can't pull your credit report, it isn't likely to grant new credit to someone else in your name. So a security freeze is an excellent deterrent against fraud. But like all deterrents, it isn't fail-safe. "Some creditors, such as payday lenders, will give credit without getting a credit report," says Rebecca Kuehn, assistant director of the Federal Trade Commission's division of privacy and identity protection.

If you haven't placed a security freeze and you spot a sign of identity theft, put an initial fraud alert on your credit report immediately. That's fast, free, and stays in place for 90 days. It also gives you additional legal protection. After that, request a security freeze.

Prospective lenders are supposed to see a fraud alert on your credit file and call you to find out whether the application is legitimate. Filing a fraud alert is appropriate anytime your identity information is compromised, such as when your wallet, cell phone, or computer is lost or stolen, or if your home or car is broken into. But you should also do it after more-subtle warning signs, such as finding unauthorized charges on your credit-card statement (even if quickly resolved) or failing to receive expected bills or mail.

Fraud alerts are free; security freezes typically cost $5 to $10 per person per credit bureau each time you place or temporarily lift one. Prices range from free to $20 depending on state law. But if you're a victim of ID fraud, freezes are usually free. You can initiate a freeze online directly with each credit bureau; for fraud alerts, you only need to inform one bureau, which will pass the request on to the other two.

3. Secure Your Devices

If you access the Internet on your computer, you probably already know about the need for a firewall; regularly updated anti-virus, anti-spyware, and anti-phishing software; and strong passwords with upper- and lower-case letters, numerals, and symbols like #, &, and $. But you might not think about other wide-open doors to your identity. Make sure your smart phone, iPad, other mobile devices, and portable flash drives containing personal data have security applications and encryption in case they're lost or stolen.

4. Keep an ID-Theft File

Because identity theft is now a fact of life, it's a good idea to set up a folder for certain documents and data and keep it in a secure place. Include credit reports, security-freeze documents and passwords, copies of annual privacy notices, security-breach notices, and potential ID-theft evidence, such as mail to your address in someone else's name. This is also the place to keep photocopies of the contents of your wallet -- the front and back of your driver's license, credit cards, club membership cards, etc. -- in case it's lost or stolen.

Feel free to comment. Let me know what you have done to protect yourself and your information