Simple Safeguards Against Identity Theft
Three Wayne County residents face charges for dozens of counts of identity theft and access device fraud. The District Attorney’s Office alleges the three used stolen names and social security numbers to apply for credit cards.
At least 13 people were victims of the identity fraud. One victim had more than $14,000 in credit card charges billed to his account.
Identity theft is a growing problem in Pennsylvania and nationwide. Every year, more than 10 million people across the county have personal information — including social security numbers, birth dates, bank account numbers and credit card information — stolen.
For the victim, identify theft can severely damage personal finances, credit history and reputation. Putting your life back together after you discover the fraud takes time and money.
Some simple identity theft precautions that can help protect your personal information from identity thieves include:
- Shred sensitive documents, like bank statements, before you throw them away.
- Use unique passwords for all your electronic accounts and change your passwords regularly.
- Shield your computer with spyware and virus protection.
- Go over your credit card bills and bank statements regularly for unauthorized charges.
- Protect your social security card by storing in a secure location.
- Monitor your credit report for accounts that aren’t yours.
These steps can decrease the likelihood that you will become a victim of identity theft. But identity criminals are relentless. If you were the victim of identity theft, an experienced financial law firm can help you recover. Harold Shepley & Associates has years of experience helping people with a variety of personal finance challenges.
July 23, 2013 Posted in Financial Literacy Tagged access device fraud, identity fraud, identity theft, safeguards against identity theft, social security numbers Leave a comment
