Wednesday, March 4, 2009

How To Get A Good Identity Theft Protection

By Esther K Smith

If you want to safeguard your identity, you have to get an identity theft protection plan. Most people do not know that identity theft is a crime, in fact, a very serious criminal activity. And it is comparable to any terminal illness such as cancer that can strikes anytime, anywhere to anyone.

Most people believe that they are safe from being an identity theft victim, and it can only happen to other people. However, when it strikes, it can be disastrous. So, it is wiser to have in place a good identity theft protection plan before it hit you hard.

Do You Need A Wakeup Call

Based on the current publicity and the rising numbers of identity theft cases taking place in the US and in the rest of the world, there is a need to have a good identity theft protection plan in place. These bad news serve as a wakeup call and get you moving to do something concrete to beat the odds that you are going to become the next identity theft victim.

Safe from Identity Thieves?

Without a good identity theft protection plan in place you will have little chance to combat identity thieves that operate with stealth and with great speed and ingenuity. Whats more, by the time you wake up to the fact that your identity has been stolen you will be in deep financial and emotional trouble.

Are any safeguards in place?

The 1st tip of this plan is to make ensure you do not throw away your old bank and credit card statements into the dumpster. It is important to shred these statements.

You have to safe-guard your Social Security number and card wholeheartedly and should not give any chances to criminals to get hold of them. This is why you should have your identity theft protection plan in place.

The 3rd part of your identity theft protection plan will be to ensure that you never divulge your personal information over the telephone or through the mail or even via the Internet unless you have initiated the conversation or communication.

The protection plan you are using will ensure that you never clicked on those unsolicited emails that have suspicious links or you may be open to damages causes by identity thieves. It is also important that your computer to be equipped with the latest versions of firewalls and anti-virus software.

Also, before throwing away your old computer makes sure to format and erase your hard drive and only then discard the computer.

Are You Alert Enough?

With regards to your credit card identity theft protection, there is a need to be as alert when using your credit card. It will be disastrous when it is fallen into the wrong hands. You have to take note that when your credit card statements do not arrive suddenly, you have to be alert too. You have to call the financial institutions to immediately to ask them why.

When in you are public places, do not leave your wallet or purse unattended. This is one part of a good identity theft protection plan. Another part of the protection plan is to replace your signature on your credit card with a photo ID.

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