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Experts now say, "it is not a matter of if you will be the victim of Identity Theft or Fraud, but a matter of when." Being aware and educated of both, and protecting yourself from them, will help limit your exposure to Identity Theft and Fraud.
To learn more about Identity Theft and how to protect yourself from it click on the video link below.
What is Identity Theft? Identity Theft is a crime where a thief steals your personal information such as your full name and or social security number, to commit fraud. The thief can use your information to apply for credit, file taxes, get medical treatment or obtain other services. In other words, the thief uses your good credit to go on a spending spree.
To avoid being a victim consumers need to pay extra attention as they go about their daily routine. Below are tips to protect yourself against one of the fastest growing crimes in America.
Warning signs of Identity Theft: You get bills, credit card statements, calls from businesses or collection agencies, or other notices for debts and purchases you know nothing about.
The 18-29 year old age bracket continues to be a target for Identity Theft. Unfortunately, young adults more typically think about protecting their personal belongings than their personal information. Young adults can help prevent themselves from becoming a target for identity theft with the following steps:
Phishing (FISH-ing) is a twist on an old telemarketing scam; however, instead of the phone, scam artists use email to target potential victims. It refers to how scam artists steal victims personal information. They are phishing for information. Scam artists pretend to represent a trusted source, like a bank, and then scare the customer with threats if they do not act quickly. These scammers steal credit card, bank account, and Social Security numbers. They also seek username and passwords or any other personal information. Phishing scams are constantly evolving and we offer the following tips so you don't become a victim:
Each year people are victimized by extremely persuasive and friendly thieves. Today, consumers not only have to deal with door-to-door scam artists, but hundreds of mail, email, social media and Internet scams. Here are some ways to prevent identity fraud from happening:
If you are the victim of identity theft or fraud, the best thing you can do is report it immediately. Scammers depend on your uncertainty and embarrassment of being victimized to keep their scam going. If you have any questions when contacted by someone, contact your financial institution or the proper authorities to make sure it is a legitimate deal.