Title,Steps,Protect,Your,Ident business, insurance Title: 20 Steps To Protect Your Identity

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Identity theft. We've all heard of it, but dowe really understand how serious and prevalent it actually is? Believeit or not, identity theft is the fastest-growing crime in the US,according to the National Crime Prevention Council. As a matter offact, almost $50 billion dollars was stolen via identity theft in 2006alone. Its not just money that is lost when identity theft isperpetrated, however, it's time as well. The mean resolution time is atan all time high. It takes approximately 40 hours per victim to resolvethe crime itself, but over 600 hours getting his or her financesstraight, according the Identity Theft Resource Center. This crime seems very far away and anonymous, but, although themajority of identity theft perpetrators are strangers, over 30% areacquainted with the victim. Here are the numbers; 13% of perpetratorsare employees of victims, 11% are the victim's relatives, 10% arefriends or roommates, 5% are co-workers, 4% are former spouses orsignificant others, and 2% are caregivers of the elderly or disabled.These figures really bring home the seriousness and inevitability ofthis insidious crime. The statistics tell the story, and the story is a frightening one - butwhat can you do to protect yourself from this growing crime? Thefollowing are 20 of the best methods to combat identity theft: 1. Get a shredder: There are many models and types available at greatvalues. They should be used to destroy all-important papers, but mostparticularly, pre- approved credit applications received in the mail.Credit card receipts should also be shredded every month. 2. Watch for "Dumpster Divers:" Shredding can also help in this area,but always be careful to think about what you're discarding, and how itmight be used to steal your identity. 3. Avoid "Shoulder Surfers:" Bewary of anyone getting too close at the ATM machine or when using phonecards. They could take your pin number and access your accounts. 4. Don't Have Checks Delivered to Your Home: Always have checks sent directly to your bank and pick them up from there. 5. Don't Send Checks from Home: Send them through the post office, or drop them in a US mailbox for maximum security. 6. Cancel Unused Credit Cards: Destroy and discard any credit cards you haven't used in 6 months or more. 7. Don't "Pass" on Passwords: Add passwords to all accounts and neveruse your mother's maiden name. Make up a new word to use that doesn'trelate to you personally in any way. 8. A P.O. is the Way to Go: A post office box or locked mailbox is the most secure way to receive sensitive mail. 9. Do Business With Companies that Shred Too: Make sure all thedoctors' offices, financial institution and other vendors that you dobusiness with also destroy your confidential information. 10. Only Carry What You Need: Don't keep extra credit cards or socialsecurity numbers in your wallet. Memorize what you need to know andkeep actual cards or documents to a minimum. 11. Don't Give Out Personal Information Over the Phone: When someoneyou don't know calls you, never give out any personal information. 12. Keep Your Social Security Number Under Wraps: Don't include yoursocial security number on checks or credit card receipts. It's notnecessary and it can be a very risky practice. 13. Don't Give Up Your "Digits:" Putting your telephone number on yourchecks is never a good idea and can be used to gather your personalinformation. 14. A Picture's Worth A Thousand Dollars, (or more): Try to ordercredit cards and business cards with your own picture on them for extrasecurity. 15. Don't Put Your Credit Card Number Online: Unless you are makingtransactions on a secure, encrypted site, don't put your credit cardnumber online. 16. Leave Your Address At Home: Any time you make a credit cardpurchase, do not put your address, phone number or driver's licensenumber on your statement. 17. Monitor Your Monthly Statements: Carefully review your monthly bankand credit card statements for any transactions you don't recognize. 18. Review Your Credit Report: Order this information at least twice ayear from the credit bureau and look for anything that seems incorrector fraudulent. 19. Fix it Fast: Immediately correct any mistakes on your credit reportvia written response, with a request for return receipt. 20. Get on the Do Not Call List: Make sure your name is taken off anypromotional lists and call the 3 credit reporting agency phone numbersto opt out of pre-approved credit card offers. Article Tags: Identity Theft, Credit Card, Credit Cards, Social Security, Personal Information