Identity Theft

Identity theft is part of identity fraud and specifically refers to the theft and use of personal identifying information of an actual person, as opposed to the use of a fictitious identity. This can include the theft and use of identifying personal information of persons either living or dead.

Identity Theft Protection & Prevention Solutions

Identity theft happens in a multitude of ways ranging from somebody using your credit card details illegally to make purchases, through to having your entire identity assumed by another person to open bank accounts, take out loans, make tax returns and conduct other business illegally in your name.

Identity theft can happen easily. Most often you will not even know you are a victim until well after the fact. It can happen quickly. You might have your credit card details skimmed when you make a purchase, lose your wallet or other personal effects, or have them stolen. You could inadvertently provide your details by phone or email to what you think are legitimate businesses or have your personal information stolen from an unsecured site on the internet. Perhaps most unexpected of all, you could have your identity stolen and used by someone you know and trust—a friend, relative or work colleague.

Your identity is a personal part of who you are. Having your identity stolen can have a devastating effect, both emotionally and financially. Victims can often spend years and thousands of dollars trying to restore their good names.

By introducing some practical precautions into everyday life you can significantly reduce the risk of having your identity used without you knowing. The following is a list of simple precautions:

● Destroy all identifying information when disposing of personal papers, including bank statements, utility bills, such as phone, electricity and gas bills.

● Don’t give out personal information over the phone or by e-mail unless you have initiated the contact or are confident the caller is who they claim to be.

● Check accounts and other records carefully. Know when accounts are due. A late or missing account could mean a billing address has been changed and your identity has possibly been stolen.

● Use a separate bank account with a low credit limit for internet transactions.

By following these simple points you can take an active role in reducing the risk that your identity may be used without your consent or knowledge.


Let Home Security Place Help You Find More ID Theft Protection and Prevention Solutions

Click on the links to a few of the top online identity theft resources above and have a look around their sites to get further information. To find more Identity theft and identity fraud information you can use the search feature at the top left of this site.