Increase your identity theft awareness - educate yourself on this growing crime.

Identity theft, according to the FBI, is one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States with an estimated 500,000 to 700,000 Americans being victims of identity theft every year.

The best defense anyone can have against a crime such as identity theft, is to educate yourself before you become a victim.

Raise your identity theft awareness levels. Gather information and knowledge about what it is, how it happens and what to do to prevent it. One of the ways in which you can do this is to research the crime.

Visit the many ID Theft tools and resources located at: http://www.debt-to-income.com/debt-free-living.html Just scroll down to the ID Theft & Scams section to access the information in these tools. This information should provide you with most of the information you will need to lessen your chance of becoming a victim and/or minimizing the impact after you discover your personal information has been compromised.

Here are some other key resources that are provided by various government agencies, law enforcement agencies and their websites. Some of these identity theft awareness resources are located at:

• The website of The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), at www.consumer.gov/idtheft
• The website of The Office for Victims of Crime under the Department of Justice, at http://ovc.ncjrs.org/findvictimservices/default.html
• Home site of the Department of Justice, at www.usdoj.gov/criminal/fraud/idtheft.html
• The National Criminal Justice Referral Service, at www.ncjrs.org/spotlight/identity_theft/facts.html
• The site for The Identity Theft Resource Center, at www.idtheftcenter.org/vg17A.shtml
• Website of The National Crime Prevention Council www.ncpc.org.

In general, the biggest protection you can create for yourself is by properly managing your personal information. Proper handling can minimize the risk of identity theft, as well as the potential for damage.

1. Protect your credit card, bank, and phone accounts with passwords
   Don't use easily available information as passwords, like your mother's maiden name, your own date of birth, the last few digits of your social security number, and phone number, or consecutive number series.

   While opening new accounts, ask to use a password instead of your mother's maiden name as security.

2. Make sure that your personal information is secure in your home; especially when you have roommates or hire outside help
3. Ask about information security procedures in any other places using or storing your personal information
   This may include places such as your workplace, businesses you frequent, doctors' offices, and any other institutions that collect your personal information.

   It's important that you find out who has access to your personal information at these places; verify that the information is handled securely; ask about records disposal procedures; find out whether they will share the information with anyone else, and if they share or sell information, ask how you can keep your information confidential.

4. Don't give out personal information on the phone, mail, or Internet until you are sure of whom you're dealing with. Never give out info unless you initiated the call. This is a common mistake for those with little to no identity theft awareness.
5. Treat your mail and trash carefully
   Deposit outgoing mail in post office collection boxes or the local post office, and not in unsecured mailboxes. Remove mail regularly and promptly from your mailbox.

   If you are going to be away from home, request a vacation hold on your mail until you return.

   Tear or shred your charge receipts, credit application copies, insurance forms, statements, checks, expired credit or charge cards and credit offers you get in the mail.

In conclusion, you will find that Identity theft awareness is essential for your safety against the growing number of criminal elements in our society.

» Identity Theft Banking Losses - Banks Can Bank On Losses
Identity theft banking losses account for millions in losses each and every year. The cost of doing business has gone up substantially for banks since identity theft has been on the rise.

» Identity Theft Check Review - Steps You Can Take Today
Identity theft check cashing is just one way in which your personal information can be used against you. However, you can take proactive steps to guard against the crime of identity theft.

» Identity Theft Commercials - More Than Just A 30-Second Ad
Identity theft commercials are one way that financial organizations are trying to educate the public in order to protect their personal information, as well as the assets of the company.

Return to "Main Articles" Page from.... identity theft awareness article.