Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft
Part 10
by Michelle Black

Thanks very much for “tuning in” today for our 10^th and final tip regarding identity theft prevention.  I hope that you have enjoyed this blog series as much as I have enjoyed writing it.  By following today’s tip and all 9 previous tips outlined in this series you can drastically reduce your chances of being victimized by ID thieves.

#10:  Take Your Name Off Promotional Lists.

When taking strides to reduce your risk of identity theft, it is definitely a good idea to opt out of pre-approved and promotional offers. Remember, in part 3 of this blog series where I wrote about “dumpster divers?” Dumpster divers are thieves who steal personal information right out of your trash can. It is very easy for a thief to steal a pre-approved credit card offer that was sent to you (especially if the document is thrown into the trash without being properly shredded) and apply for an account in your name with a new address. Nearly half (43%) of all identity fraud originates from stolen wallets and/or stolen paperwork. By removing yourself from these promotional mailing lists you can avoid this risk all together. Thankfully, it is pretty simple to have yourself removed from these lists. Just visit www.optoutprescreen.com to get started.

At HOPE we know that being a victim of identity fraud is a nightmare. Once a fraudulent account appears on your credit report it can been almost impossible to see it removed without having to pay for the account out of your own pocket unless professional assistance is used.  In fact, 70% of ID theft victims have difficulty removing the fraudulent information that resulted from ID theft from their credit reports (ITRC Aftermath Study).  If you have been a victim of ID theft (or you suspect that you have been a victim of ID theft) then we invite you to give our team of credit experts a call.  You can schedule a no-obligation credit analysis appointment with HOPE to see how much damage has been done to your credit report and what it will take to help you turn the situation around. For more information or to schedule your appointment please call 704-499-9696.  We would love to help you kick identity theft issues or any other credit issues you may be facing to the curb!

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Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft
Part 9
by Michelle Black

As I begin to wind down this informative blog series (just 1 more tip to go!) I would like to share one of the more alarming statistics I came across during my research. According to the ITRC Aftermath Study, over 43% of identity theft victims know the person who stole their identity! Unsurprisingly, it is not uncommon for a child to steal a parent’s identity to open utilities accounts, apply for credit cards or other loans, or even use a parent’s already established credit card or checking account to make unauthorized purchases.  However, believe it or not, it is also a very common phenomenon for parents to steal the identities of their children, especially in the case of underage minors with clean or un-established credit reports. Roommates are another common source of identity theft.

Since credit card theft makes up a whopping 26% of identity theft here is another tip to help you:

#9:  Monitor Your Statements Every Month.

It is extremely important to monitor all of your bank statements and credit card statements every single month.  You should read through your statements, line by line, to check for any unauthorized or suspicious charges.  If you find anything that looks “fishy” you can contact your bank or credit card company directly to investigate the charges further.  This proactive step could potentially help to keep you from paying someone else’s bill!

Be sure to check back this week for my final tip on how to avoid identity fraud.  If you haven’t done so already, please check out parts 1-8 of the Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft blog series.  Learning the tactics used by identity thieves can help you to protect yourself from becoming victimized!  Have you already become a victim of identity theft?  HOPE is here to help! Please give us a call at 704-499-9696 to learn how the HOPE Program can help you to reclaim your good name.  No credit problem is too big!

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Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft
Part 8
by Michelle Black

Did you know that 1 in 10 US consumers has already been victimized by identity fraud?   In fact, studies have shown that those households with incomes higher than $70,000 were twice as likely to experience identity theft as those with salaries under $50,000 (U.S. DOJ, 2005). Those are some disturbing statistics. However, the good news is that there are many ways you can protect yourself from becoming another victim to this rapidly growing crime. Check out today’s tip for avoiding identity theft:

#8:  Don’t Carry Unnecessary Personal Documents in Your Wallet or Purse.

Empty your wallet of all extra credit cards and social security numbers. Do not carry any unnecessary forms of identification. It is also very important NOT to carry your birth certificate, social security card, marriage license, military ID, or passport, unless necessary.  Not having these items in your purse or wallet will make it harder for identity thieves to steal sensitive personal information from you.  You definitely do not want to make it any easier for thieves to target you!

There are still a few more great tips to come on how to protect yourself and your family from identity theft! Please check back in with us next week.  Remember, if you find today’s tip to be helpful, please be sure to share it with your online friends with our easy to use “share” buttons below.  The #1 way we can reduce identity theft is by increasing awareness.  Thanks for your help spreading the word!

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Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft
Part 7
by Michelle Black

Thanks for checking in again today for our latest identity theft prevention tip.  If you have not done so already, we would love for you to take the time to review parts 1 – 6 of this empowering blog series. The most effective way to combat identity theft is to be aware of the practices employed by scam artists and identity thieves.  Knowing what to do and what not to do in advance could save you a lot of heartache and help to avoid identity fraud before it has a chance to affect you!  Here is our next tip:

#7:  Don’t Put Checks in Your Mailbox.

Even if this sounds like overkill to you, it is strongly advised that you do not put checks in the mail from your home mailbox. Drop them off at a U.S. Mailbox or the U.S. Post Office. Mail theft is common. It is easy. All that a thief needs to do is steal your check (rent check, power bill check, cell phone bill check, etc.) and change the name of the recipient on the check with an acid wash. You can also pay your bills online via a secure website to further protect yourself from this type of fraud.

Shockingly, there are around 10 million victims of identity theft in the United States every single year! Following today’s tip, and previous tips from our Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft blog series will help you to drastically reduce you chances of being numbered among those victims. Don’t forget to check back with us soon for more tips and hints you can use to combat identity thieves.

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Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft
Part 6
by Michelle Black

I want to begin today by thanking our readers for their great positive feedback on our current blog series: Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft.  I especially want to give an extra big “thank you” to those readers who have taken the time to share these great tips with their friends and family members via email, Facebook and Twitter.  The best way to arm yourself and others against identity theft is by increasing awareness.  We at HOPE appreciate you sharing these articles with others and helping us to expose these scam artists before they have a chance to strike!

Continuing on the theme of identity theft, today I’m going to talk about a new, all too common scam that thieves are using online to take advantage of unsuspecting victims:

#6: Don’t Fall for Phishing Scams.
Wikipedia defines phishing as “a way of attempting to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords and credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication.” In other words, identity thieves employ phishing techniques by trying to get you to reveal your personal information online – via email, chat, or social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, etc.).  The would be thieves will often pose as your bank, credit card company, PayPal, a charity or even a sweepstakes give-away and will try to get you to respond with personal information or click on a link.  Don’t do it! I repeat – do not reply or even click on a link included in the email or instant message.  In fact, you can even go one step further (I know I do) and refuse to open any emails unless they come from someone (or some business) that you know.  In other words, if the subject line of your email reads “Congratulations! You’ve Won a Free Vacation!” you want to go ahead and click the delete button – fast!

Be sure to check back with us soon for tip #7 on avoiding identity fraud.  Remember, if you enjoyed today’s tip, please feel free to share it (using our easy “share” buttons below) with your friends and family.  Thanks again for helping HOPE to spread awareness about the tactics of identity thieves!

If you or a loved one has been a victim of identity fraud the credit experts at HOPE would love to assist you in regaining your good name.  Please give us a call at 704-499-9696 and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have plus give you more information about the services offered by HOPE.

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