Chapter 8 – Is Anyone Out There? Identity Theft Protection Help & Resources
The future of identity theft looks grim. Three in four Americans are worried about the security of their personal information in the future – more than at any other time in history. Thieves are getting smarter. Technology is racing ahead, and many wonder at what expense. Are we prepared to deal with the problems posed in the future?
Identity theft is scary; there are no doubts about that. It can ruin your career, your finances, your personal life, and even your family life. Every year, thousands and thousands of people succumb to each kind of identity theft. That means that there are millions of victims all around the world, with new cases popping up every minute of every day.
One of the biggest problems with protecting your identity is that thieves are always changing the ways that they are able to steal it. Each day, it seems that there are brand new ways that people are having their identities stolen – and often it seems that some people do not know that how they have had their identity stolen – just that is has been. This is something that is a big problem when it comes to your own identity, because when you find yourself in identity theft problems, you have to figure out how it happened to you so that you know what you can do to avoid in the future.
There are many ways that you can be sure that you will be able to deal with the ever changing identity theft problems. First of all, it is important for you to be vigilant and keep track of all of the things that you have already heard about identity theft. You should keep a running record in your mind about how you should avoid getting your identity stolen. It is important that you are able to keep track of all of the ways that your identity might be stolen, so that you know you can prevent it.
The next step is for you to make sure you are always paying attention to the news about identity theft. This is important because every time there is a new scam, it will be reported. This is something that you should always know. As long as you are keeping track of the new methods, you will be able to avoid whichever ones you can.
Next, you want to remember that you are going to be your own best defense when it comes to the ever changing methods of identity theft. You should be checking on your bank account and other accounts as often as you can – once per day if possible. You should keep track of everything that happens with your bank account – and you always want to be sure that you are reporting any problems or discrepancies directly to your bank. You want to be the person who is keeping the closest track of their bank account, and this will be your best defense. This is the best thing that you can do because no matter what a thief tries next, you will be the first one to spot when something has happened.
It is very important for your future that you are able to keep track of what identity thieves and what they happen to be doing. Even though banks are getting much better about helping you regain your money and take care of anything that comes up – you still want to be sure that you are protecting yourself as much as possible. You want to always be sure that when you take your money into your own hands and that you are always able to save the money that you need to.
So what else can you do?
There is help. Although thieves are smart, there are some great resources out there that are, in most cases, smarter. You don’t have to live in fear, wondering when and if identity theft will strike you. Prevention is possible, even if the ever-changing world of identity theft. In this chapter, you’ll find all of the resources you need to continue your education, find professionals, and learn about protection options.
Identity Theft Protection
Should you get insurance to protect you from identity theft? Absolutely. There are no guarantees. Even if you follow every piece of advice given in this book, you can still easily fall victim, especially if your use a credit car to make purchases over the Internet. Identity theft protection is insurance so that even if your identity is stolen, you don’t have to pay for the problems resulting from it. With millions of people losing thousands of dollars every year to identity theft, you can’t really afford not to buy it.
Each identity theft insurance program is a bit different. Which one is right for you? That depends on your specific wants and needs. In general, however, most plans are fairly similar and can be purchased for a premium of under $15 per month. That is less than $180 per year for, in many cases, up to a million dollars in protection.
When starting this book, you read about how putting yourself on the radar as someone who is interested in learning about identity protection can in and of itself defer criminals. Purchasing identity theft protection can do the same thing. Companies employ professional to bring thieves to justice, and they have a much farther reach than an individual has. Why get caught if you can steal the identity of someone who is not protected and, in theory, unsuspecting?
When comparing identity theft protection plans, there are a number of insurance features for you to consider. Looking at the following features can help you decide which plan is right for you:
• Monthly or annual cost
• Fraud alerts
• Credit report monitoring
• Credit score monitoring
• Insurance coverage against theft
• Assistance with recovery
• Pre-approved credit card stopping
• Internet scanning
• Ease to sign up
• Free trials
There are quite a few different companies offering identity theft insurance, with more popping up every day due to the prevalence of identity theft in today’s world. Here is contact information for some of the older and most trusted insurance planes:
Identity Guard
P.O. Box 222455
Chantilly, VA 20153-2455
1-800-452-2541
8:00 AM – 11:00 PM EST, Monday – Friday
9:00 AM – 6:00 PM EST, Saturday
customersupport@identityguard.com
LifeLock
20 East Rio Salado Parkway
Suite 400
Tempe, AZ 85281
1-877-543-3562
1-480-682-5130 (fax)
24/7 customer support
TrustedID
555 Twin Dolphin Drive
Suite 610
Redwood City, CA 94065
1-888-548-7878
1-650-631-8111 (fax)
7:30 AM – 4:30 PM Pacific, Monday – Friday
Great Identity Theft Web sites
It may seem ironic that the Internet is one of the best places to find information regarding online identity theft, but it makes sense when you think about it. Identity theft is changing so quickly that the Internet is pretty much the only way to get new information out to the general public very quickly. Here are some of the very best Web sites for identity theft information:
FTC’s site on identity theft
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/
Identity Theft Prevention and Survival
Privacy Rights Clearinghouse
http://www.privacyrights.org/identity.htm
The Internet Crime Complaint Center
The Identity Theft Resource Center
Fight Identity Theft
http://www.fightidentitytheft.com/
Identity Theft Books
To take things even further, there are a number of other publications that can teach you the basics of identity theft and go into even greater detail about some of the things we talked about here. Remember, written books will be out of date fairly quickly in regards to the newest identity theft scams. However, these are a great addition to your identity theft prevention library!
• 50 Ways to Protect Your Identity and Your Credit: Everything Your Need to Know about Identity Theft, Credit Cards, Credit Repair, and Credit Reports by Steve Weisman
• Economics of Identity Theft: Avoidance, Causes and Possible Cures by L. Jean Camp
• Identity Theft: What It Is, How to Prevent It, and What to Do If It Happens to You by Rob Hamdi
• Insider’s Secrets to Identity Theft: What They Don’t Want You to Know (Insider’s Guide) by T. Carter
• Investigating Identity Theft: A Guide for Businesses, Law Enforcement, and Victims by Judith M. Collins
• Johnny May’s Guide to Preventing Identity Theft: How Criminals Steal Your Personal Information, How to Prevent it, and What to Do if You Become a Victim by Johnny R. May
• Pocket Guide to Identity Theft by Lou Savelli
• Preventing Identity Theft for Dummies by Michael J. Arata, Jr.
• Privacy Crisis: Identity Theft Prevention Place and Guide to Living Anonymously by Grant Hall
• The Rational Guide to Preventing Identity Theft by Jerri Ledford
• Stealing Your Life: The Ultimate Identity Theft Prevention Plan by Frank W. Abagnale
• The Wall Street Jounal’s Complete Identity Theft Guidebook: How to Protect Yourself from the Most Pervasive Crime in America by Terri Cullen
• Your Evil Twin Behind the Identity Theft Epidemic by B. Sullivan