Protect Your Credit From Theives

As the Internet becomes a more intricate part of our daily lives so has credit fraud. The electronic age that we now live in has led to the creation of a variety of conveniences. Cell phones, email, on-line auctions and on -line banking are just some of the most used services that many people would miss dearly.

What is identity theft?

The electronic age we live in has multiplied the chances of having your credit identity stolen and missed used. Identity theft is a crime where a thief 'steals'- social security numbers, account numbers and other personal information without your knowledge to get credit or services.

The most typical credit theft is the simplest- someone generates credit card numbers, or steals them, and then uses it to charge services on the Internet (normally pornographic materials). Credit card numbers are valuable to thieves, and they tend to trade and share. There are illicit sites that traffic in credit card numbers.

The typical type of identity theft is fairly easy to undo because creditors must remove false charges from your account upon request. However, an identity theft can go so far as your name being used by another person in connection with arrests, major purchases like homes and even employment. We'll cover all types.

These can get very rough to undo.

Often it can take weeks or even months for you to discover that your information has been stolen. Correcting the situation can take even longer and cost you thousands of dollars in the process. While preventing identity theft is nearly impossible, it is possible to reduce your chances of becoming a victim.

§  Request and review a copy of your credit report to make sure it is accurate.

§  Never give out personal information over the phone, Internet or in the mail unless you are the one initiating the contact and know exactly whom you are communicating with.

§  When creating passwords, secret codes and PINs, avoid basing them on easily available information, like birth dates or social security numbers.

§  Never every keep your PIN or secret code with your ATM card or credit cards.

§  Guard your mail. Remove mail promptly from the box after delivery. Send outgoing mail from collection boxes or your local post office to avoid mail theft.