Identity Theft Credit Repair

The Holiday Season is here and we will all be shopping for presents for friends and family. This information deals mainly with the physical act of shopping in stores and around a lot of people. The large crowds, the distractions, and the stress that many people feel while on a mission to find the perfect gifts are ideal conditions for identity thieves and pickpockets to take advantage. Protect yourself so you can enjoy the season instead of being stressed out because you become a victim of Identity Theft.

Shopping online and other dangers will be covered in another article because different precautions are necessary.

Will you use your seat belts when you drive to the mall? Most Americans do now days according to recent polls. We all know that the seat belt will only help if it is on when we actually have an accident. Putting it on after the accident is useless.

The exact same wisdom applies to protecting yourself from Identity Theft. Knowing what to do and not doing it will leave you feeling bad about yourself if you do become a victim.

Here are a few quick current Identity Theft facts to remind you of the severity of being a victim.
* Over 10 million identity theft victims per year in the US.
* An identity is stolen every 4 seconds in the US.
* The average cost to restore a stolen identity is $8,000.
* Victims spend an average of 600 hours recovering from this crime.
* Arrests and convictions of identity thieves are less than 5%.

Follow these reminders and precautions to maximize your safety

All an identity thief wants is an identity that is not their own…an identity that doesn’t lead back to them as the person responsible for the debt. They are skilled at their “job” and can get money or credit when the real owner of the identity probably could not.

The first precaution for both men and women is to put your purse or wallet on a diet. Don’t carry any identity information or credit cards that you don’t absolutely need.

Never carry your Social Security Card on a daily basis. Only carry it when you actually need it. Otherwise, keep it locked up someplace safe.

Determine which credit card(s) you are going to use and leave the others at home. If you are only using one card and it goes missing it will be easy to notice. If you’re carrying six and one gets lost or stolen you may not realize it for a long time.

Don’t use ATM or debit cards if at all possible. There are two reasons for this advice. The first reason is that many debit cards are attached to more than one bank account for over-draft protection. If a thief gets access to one account they could empty all related accounts. The second reason is because the limits of your losses are higher and your time to notify the bank of the loss is shorter.

Check books, deposit slips, and bank receipts should be left at home or at least closely guarded and tracked. They are easy for thieves to use and offer you less loss protection from the banks or financial institutions.

Purse snatching and pickpockets are big threats during the shopping season because of the large crowds and distractions. Unzipped purses, backpacks, or open bags are open invitations to pickpockets.

Fanny packs are recommended for both men and women. Wear it so it rides against the stomach.

Ladies should carry their purses securely against the front of the body with all compartments closed. Put the strap over your shoulder.

Men should carry their wallets in a front pocket or in a buttoned hip pocket. Many of us men use our wallet as a file cabinet and it looks like one stuck in our back pocket. Gentlemen, do your security and your spine a favor. Downsize that brick you call a wallet and carry it in your front pocket. You will be safer and you will start feeling better as your spine is allowed to re-align to its normal shape. If you must carry your wallet in your back pocket wrap a big rubber band around it a several times. It creates more friction and makes it harder for a thief to pick your pocket without you feeling it.

If you carry a backpack be careful. When it is on your back you can’t feel what’s happening behind you and items could be taken from the pack very easily.

Don’t leave receipts stapled to your bags or even in your bags. The bag could be stolen or the receipt can easily be snatched as you walk by a thief.

Be aware of your surroundings, persons who are around you, and what they are doing. There are three situations to be especially aware of.

The first is when you are making a transaction. Someone standing close to you could be “shoulder surfing.” That means they are watching you for a pin number, a loose credit card, driver’s license, checking account number, a receipt, something you set down, or leave after your transaction…anything that they can use to steal your identity and your money.

The second situation is when you are using a credit card to make a purchase with a clerk. Make sure you stay attentive to what is being done with your credit card. Don’t get distracted because just a few seconds is enough time for trouble to happen. An electronic device called a skimmer can be used to collect your card information for later use by an unscrupulous person. All they have to do is swipe the card an extra time just like they do for the legitimate transaction for the store. Hold and swipe the card yourself if at all possible. Then put it right back where it belongs in your purse or wallet.
The third situation is when you go to your vehicle. Make sure you park in a well-lit area and that you aren’t followed. Many shopping malls have valet parking available which may be a good choice at this time of the year, especially if it could be dark when you return to your car.

Speaking of your car, don’t leave presents in plain sight in a locked car. This is often an invitation to be broken into. Also, beware of the type of info you keep in your glove box. If you go through the papers in your glove box you will probably be amazed at the amount of identity information a thief could get if they gain access to your car.

With these few precautions in mind you can have a safer, happier holiday season. While no one is completely safe from identity theft your education and diligence will make a potential thief look for an easier target. Oh, by the way, these precautions should be practiced year round. The more you practice them the easier they get and the safer you are!

Happy Holidays!

PS. If you need a gift idea a good crosscut shredder is a thoughtful present for almost anyone that doesn’t already have one. They are relatively inexpensive and add so much to identity safety and peace of mind.