Every case of identity theft is different from one another but the real concern is to know what happens to the victims of identity thefts. It is said to feel that these victims get little or no help from the authorities who actually informed on their stolen identity to them. The law enforcement agencies do not conduct any type of serious investigations to resolve these problems. For them, the number of identity thefts are growing in so large numbers that it is getting difficult to handle such cases, although the financial fraud departments of many police departments are being expanded.

When someone is hit by an identity theft, they go to file complaints to the police and sheriff’s department but the police officer simply refuses to report their cases. They try to intimidate the innocent people by saying that their loss is nothing in front of the banks and the financial institutions that faced the actual financial loss.

Many victims report that they do not get adequate help from the credit grantors, banks and the CRA’s. They say that no one is there to hear their sad stories and they are given the run after. Even after the fraud alert is activated by the credit bureau, the imposter is still able to obtain more credit in the name of the victim.

Identity theft victims are tremendously threatened by the collection agencies asking them to pay the balance. In most of the cases, they are threatened with law suits, garnished wages, and having their homes taken away from them.

It is also noticed that the victims have to spend a lot of time in cleaning up this mess. They have to take offs on working days from their office to make necessary phone calls, write letters to the concerned departments and get affidavits notarized. It not only costs them time and money but they are left with agony for many years to come.

Be an informed consumer and know how to prevent a possible identity theft.

Beware of the word “prevent”: There is no person and no product that can prevent identity theft. The criminals will continue to benefit as long as there are ways to steal personal information. Sensitive personal information can be found everywhere, housed and archived in variety of ways. Every individual and company should take the initiative and store personal information in a safe manner so that it does not fall into the hands of the scammers.

There are no guarantees: There is no guarantee to anything and identity theft is no exception. While a number of instances of fraud can be restored to pre-theft status, some identity dilemmas simply can’t be fixed. If you’re on the ‘no fly list’ thanks to an imposter or an error, you’ll stay there. A third-party solution cannot deliver a remedy.

Watch for shoulder surfers and skimmers: Be careful with your personal information when you are in public place. With the advent of cell phone cameras, anyone can take a picture of your credit or debit card and they will get your private information pretty easily, if you are not careful.

Keep your social security card safe at home: There is no reason to carry cards displaying sensitive information like your social security card.

Destroy the old computer before you dump it: Your personal computer can have a lot of personal information in it. It is always recommended to physically remove the hard drives before you dump it. This is to ensure that your personal information can not be retrieved even if erased.

Don’t keep your personal information and the password stored on any website by the password manager. When convenience trumps confidentiality, you are actually inviting trouble.

Keep a photocopy of the personal material you carry in your wallet. If your wallet is stolen, you will be left wondering what was actually taken and if it had your credit cards, driving license, you will find hard to track the numbers. You need to have enough information of the lost item so that you can immediately inform the appropriate agencies.

It’s always been important to have accurate financial tracking and to be in the right track, it is necessary to get appropriate snapshot of credit reports. But now a day it has been found that many people are having a particular problem of Identity Theft. It is essential for you to know the dangers of this particular problem and its possible solution.

According to FTC’s final rule identity theft can be defined as

“a fraud that is committed or attempted, using a person’s identifying information without authority.”

According to the non-profit Identity Theft Resource Center, identity theft is

“sub-divided into four categories: Financial Identity Theft (using another’s name and SSN to obtain goods and services), Criminal Identity Theft (posing as another when apprehended for a crime), Identity Cloning (using another’s information to assume his or her identity in daily life) and Business/Commercial Identity Theft (using another’s business name to obtain credit).”

Millions of people became victims of it in the last few years. It can also be called as “Phishing”. It occurs something like that, when you receive an email from companies saying they are legitimate company and asking for your credit card information or your contact information. In this way they will have your important personal information. Your awareness can be the best solution of this problem. You need to know the methods how these scams happen. It is happened mainly through emails. They will send you bogus emails requesting personal information like, SSN (Social Security Numbers), bank details, passwords etc. But mind it don’t ever give these information although it seems that everything looks genuine. Real organizations don’t require you to send these details by the way of emails. These fraudulent companies use fake bank logos and images to convince people that they don’t look fraud. They also use similar looking website URL and email address but it is not the actual one. It will redirect you to another website. Suppose you are having this problem, then it will be better for you to ring up the bank or financial company to double check. But never give out your important personal details via email.

How fraudulent companies gather your personal information:

• Stolen or lost credit cards
• Larceny from your mailbox
• Through unsolicited emails
• Fake phone solicitation
• Going through trash
• Searching personal records

Identifying Theft

Identifying signs of fraud can vary, but generally the following points are the indicators or fraud:

1) Email, letters or incoming calls stating that your application have been approved or denied to which you never applied for;

2) Creditors inform you that they have received an application for loan from you; they will say your Name and SSN also.

3) Receiving credit card statements in your address with your name which you never applied for;

4) You are not getting statements of your credit card;

5) You are not receiving all mails which is delivered to you;

6) False purchase entries in your credit card statements that you are unable to recognize.

7) Any collection agency tells you that they are in the process of collecting money for a defaulted account with your identity that you never opened.

Free Methods to protect these scams:

• Review credit card or bank statements for fraud.
• Destroy credit card receipts or other financial papers
• Check your credit reports regularly
• Be secure about your SSN and never give it.

Find Identity Theft complaint form here:
https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/widtpubl$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU03