Identity Theft-Simple protection tips

Identity Theft-Simple protection tips

Identity theft is one of the most reported type of thefts. If a history of recorded identity thefts was to be collated, the last 3-4 years has seen almost 300,000 to 400,000 victims every year. The direct impact of identity theft is on the credit rating and the time and sum of money required to repair the credit. Like most of the scams and thefts, there are no remedies or precautions that can guarantee a 100 percent safety

. But this also does not mean that we ignore the subject or do not employ basic precautions to safeguard our identities. Below is a list of protection tips that will ensure that identity thieves do not find you as easy pickings:
1.Papers and hard copies of investments and finance related documents should be shredded and not sent for recycling.
2.Do not carry more than one credit card with you, unless absolutely necessary. Do not scribble down passwords or PIN numbers on pieces of paper and carry them along.
3.Subscribing to a credit report once-a-year is a sure way to check for transactions which are ambiguous or unauthorized.
4.Being specially careful while providing any personal information over the internet, will definitely prove to be beneficial.
5.Deleting spam emails

wherein you are asked to provide personal information is also a identity theft protection method.
6.Providing personal information over the phone can be as dangerous as providing it on the internet.
7.Keeping telephone numbers of banking companies and credit card companies will always be a wise option.
8.Lastly, and the most important of all identity theft protection practices is to report the matter to concerned authorities irrespective of the amount of loss that you have incurred. Even suspecting an email or a phone call which can lead to identity theft should be reported.
These are just some of the tips which can help you save yourself from a possible identity theft. Following these guidelines does not guarantee a cent per cent guarantee against identity theft, but as the saying goes “precaution is better than cure”.