Identification Signs That Your Identity Has Been Stolen
Identification Signs That Your Identity Has Been Stolen: They believe every rose has its thorns. With all of the technology at our disposal, it stands to reason that cybercrime is at an all-time high.
Identity thieves will go to any length to obtain your SSN, financial institution account information, and credit card information, among other things, to steal your personal information. Most identity theft victims are unaware of their situation until it is too late, and some may not even know how to report the theft in the first place.
Keep an eye out for these warning signals to apprehend a thief before the consequences spiral out of control.
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Your credit report will contain mistakes.
Pro tip: Three main credit bureaus are yours to request once every year. Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion are the three major credit reporting agencies. Experts recommend using this feature once every four months to check for potentially troubling issues such as unrecognised accounts or credit queries.
If you uncover an error, inform the credit reporting agencies right away. Ask them to investigate and remove any incorrect information on your credit report, “This is crucial for future credit score protection. You should never have these items in your wallet to protect your identity.
Losing these goods if your wallet is taken is far worse than losing a few dollars.
Protect your personal information.
In today's society, protecting your online and offline identity is vital. Examples include using secure passwords for online accounts and understanding what to keep in your wallet and what to leave at home. Continue reading to find out what you should never put in your wallet.
Number of Social Security
Keeping your Social Security card or number in your wallet is strictly prohibited. Social Security cards and their number are among the most precious facts stolen and used by a criminal.
“They can simply file taxes in your name, ask for credit in your name, seek medical treatment, and even commit crimes in your name.”
If your wallet contains your Social Security number, notify the Social Security Administration immediately.
Medical Insurance Card
Even if you don't have your Social Security card, your SSN may show on a Medicare card, which is an even more common type of theft. The old Medicare numbers, valid until January 2020, are made up of your Social Security number plus one or two letters and digits that are easy to figure out.
On all other days, create a copy of the card, cross off all except one or two numbers, and put an emergency contact number on the back. In this manner, emergency responders can still obtain the information they require.
Receipts
A department store or bank receipt may appear to contain little information. However, an expert criminal can utilise this information to take your money.
For example, someone who sees a string of receipts from Target on weeknights can shop there on a Monday night without the credit card company suspecting anything. However, your credit card company's customer service department may be more inclined to believe a scammer who is familiar with all of your recent purchases.
When you click on a link in an email appearing as your favourite restaurant, a phisher may install malware on your computer. Why have a data point that will only expose one more piece of the picture if it comes into the hands of the wrong people? I shred them when I don't need them instead of throwing them away.
Instead of storing receipts in your wallet after each purchase, request an email copy or digitally save printed receipts with apps like Shoeboxed.
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