Can Bad Things Happen To Your Name

Yes, bad things can happen to your name and usually the bad things are related to identity theft. This is the crime of our times and it has spread from the days of pick pocketing to cyber crime and the identity thieves have evolved with the changing of the times. It is wide spread and its impact is so great it can literally destroy your live. In a survey done in 2002, there were more than ten million people who were victims with a total lost of over $53 billion dollars. It is now nine years later so you can only begin to imagine what the numbers of people involved are and the astronomical amount of loss. In addition, identity theft crime has gotten more sophisticated in the last nine years.

Most everyone one knows that identity theft is stealing your personal information, including financial information. It includes anything that will give an identity thief an inside look at finding out your personal information, which includes your name, social security number, credit card number, drivers license number plus many more things that has any piece of personal information on there.

Here are some of the most common ways identity theft occurs when they have your personal information. They include, but not limited to:

  • They apply for telephone service
  • They apply for credit cards or loans
  • They use it to buy merchandise
  • They use it to lease apartments or cars
  • They use it to obtain medical care
  • They use it assume your complete identity and live and work under your name
  • They can use it to commit crimes.

These are just a few things that an identity thief can do with your personal information. It sounds like a scary situation but there are some things you can do to prevent the crime of identity theft from happening to you.

  • Call your credit card company immediately if you do not receive your credit card statements monthly.
  • Shred credit card offers.
  • Use direct deposit, especially social security checks, or any type of benefit check.
  • Reduce the number of pre-approved credit card offers you receive.
  • Avoid using ATM machines in public places like a convenience store, or mall.
  • Do not use PIN numbers that are too easy to guess,
  • Leave your social security card at home in a lock box or other safe place.
  • Use virus protection
  • Do not store your personal information on your computer.
  • Educate yourself on the latest scams.