Identity Theft – This review is for explaining identity theft, what is does, what to do if your identity is stolen, and how to prevent identity theft. For starters, what is identity theft in the first place? Identity theft is when someone uses your personal identity information (birth certificate, social security number, driver’s license, etc.) without your permission. Often, identity thieves will commit some form of fraud such as opening a bank account under your name, buying things under your credit, taking out loans under your name, and more.

If someone steals your identity it can severely injure your credit. In some cases, it could get you arrested for a crime you did not commit. If a thief makes purchases under your name and does not pay the bills, then you will be charged for the defaulted payments. Thieves may send a change of address form, so you won’t see the billing statements of their charges for several weeks.

Thieves can steal your identity in several ways. They may use a normal, physical method such as going through your trash or stealing a purse. A thief may try a method known as phishing. This is when they send you an email that looks like it is from your bank or another financial institution. They may ask you to verify your user name and password, or some other form of information. The thief uses this information to cause damage. There are many ways a thief could get your info, but these are some of the most common.

More importantly, what should you do if your identity is stolen? Some common but important starters would be to file a police report, tell your creditors and let them know about any unauthorized purchases, and keep an eye on your credit report. You may even want to freeze your credit. It will probably take a while before the problems are sorted out. Unfortunately, some of the problems may have a long lasting affect on your credit report.

The most important question of all would be, how do you prevent someone from stealing your identity in the first place? One simple way is to shred any documents you were going to throw away that contain any important personal information on them. Be aware of how much you are spending and check your credit report regularly. Don’t answer suspicious emails about your bank account or any other personal information. Let your friends know of any tips you come across, so they can be safer too.

Identity theft is growing. The more consumers know about how to prevent it, the safer we can all be. Don’t forget the things you can do to stop it, and if your identity is stolen do what you can as quickly as possible.