When a person's financial or personal information is stolen by someone else and used illegally, it is called identity theft.
Usually, a person's identity is stolen so someone else can obtain bank accounts and credit cards in their name.
Being the victim of this type of fraud often can set you back a few years financially and is difficult to recover completely from.
With some helpful information and work, you can adequately protect yourself with some identity theft prevention measures.
There are many precautions that you can take to assure your assets are fully protected.
Surprisingly, perpetrators need only a few personal details in order to steal identities so it's important that you adequately protect yourself.
Never throw important mail or documents away until all of your financial and personal information is blacked out.
Consider using paper shredders to make it easier on yourself.
Even other, more unassuming, documents can be used by thieves to steal identities.
Things like offers from credit cards that are received through the mail should be blacked out or shredded before being tossed out.
Often, thieves look through garbage in search of these documents and use them to get credit cards in other people's names.
If you are worried about being exploited this way, place a fraud alert on your credit.
All credit card applications have to be personally confirmed by you, either in person or by phone.
Thieves are fairly adept at obtaining info that has been comprised as well.
You should consider, because of this, keeping all of your to-be discarded mail in the home until it's time for trash day as opposed to just throwing it all out right away.
Shredding or blacking them all out should still be done.
You should be careful with ATM pin numbers as well.
Don't pick obvious numbers like your anniversary or birthday and change them at least every six months.
Refrain from writing it down or keeping it in your wallet or purse to prevent someone from learning it.
Memorize the number instead.
Make sure to check the mail each day early and to promptly bring it all in.
Be weary if you stop receiving bills and bank statements suddenly.
Most crooks forge signatures at their post office to get another person's mail forwarded to alternative addresses.
Credit can then be obtained using that person's information.
Carefully, take the time each month to look over your bank statements.
You should keep an eye out for charges or withdrawals that weren't made by you.
These and other inconsistencies should be reported by you immediately to your bank.
Lost credit or debit cards will need to be reported right away to your bank as well, even if they have been missing for only a few hours.