How Identity Thefts Are Committed & How To Stop Them

by Paul Wilcox

The idea of learning how to commit identity theft might seem strange to the common person. But in order to protect yourself from the criminals that commit these acts, its important to educate yourself on just how they do it. The number of identity thefts perpetrated is on the rise. And if you think it cant happen to you, then think again.

How Identity Thieves Get the Information

The first part of how to commit identity theft is how the thief gets the information about their victim. Without the necessary information, a thief cannot really steal a persons identity. There are a few steps individuals can take to help protect their information.

Buy a Shredder- Shred all of your personal information such as phone bills, credit card bills, pre-approved credit card offers, medical bills or any documents that contain personal information. Some credit card thieves search through your trash in hopes of finding documents such as these. Old bills can contain your mailing address, account numbers and full name. Some documents even contain your social security number and birth date. Identity thieves can do some major damage with this sort of information so protect yourself.

Do not give out information ” Never give information out over the phone if you have not initiated the call and know who is on the other end. If someone calls and says they are from your bank or other institution, say that youll call them back on the number you have for them (or the number that is on the back of your credit card). Never let them pressure you into staying on the call. This in and of itself is a bad sign.

Watch your information on the internet ” Never give out information over the internet if you are not certain the source is safe. This is especially true if you are acting on the information from an email. Make sure that if you receive an emailed notice from your bank or other institution that requires you log into your account that you do NOT use the link given in the email to log into your account.

One ploy that is used is thieves send out bogus emails that say they are from your bank. These emails often ask you to log in into your account using a provided link. Do not respond to these emails, instead go to your banks website and log into your account. Most banks and financial institutions do not send emails for this very reason.

Keep all of these tips in mind when you are handling your information. Remember that there are people out there that know how to commit identity theft and they are very willing to do it.

About the Author:

Worried about identity theft and other types of internet threats? Find out how to set up solid internet security so you don’t get taken on the net. Get more tips and safety information at http://www.securitymanor.com

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