Identity theft is a serious crime that is growing each year. If you are a victim of identity theft you may spend months, possibly years, trying to restore a damaged credit report. An extremely ruined credit report could compromise your chances of obtaining new employment, a bank loan, insurance or even renting a house. It is even possible to be arrested for a violation you did not commit if the guilty party has used your identity to commit illegal acts.

Remarkably, a lot of the means that crooks use to steal identities are out of your control to shield against. Granting it is rare, even store cashiers have been known to utilize their position to send along data to identity thieves. There are certain actions you can take, however, that will make it more bothersome for a criminal to swipe your identity.

Safeguard Your Credit Card Number When Buying Items

After you make a purchase and your credit or debit card has been run through a credit card terminal, check to be sure that the printed receipt obscures every number but the last 4 digits of your credit card account number (usually there will be Xs in place of the first twelve numbers). Some machines still print copies of receipts that show all 16 digits of an account number, and may even include the date the card expires as well. After your card is swiped, you are authorized legally to conceal the first twelve digits of your account number on the copy of the receipt that the seller holds. Utilize any marking pen that will do the job.

When you go to a restaurant, it is primarily important to be certain that the 1st 12 digits of your credit card number are masked on your receipt. You might be in the custom of signing it and then leaving the restaurant's duplicate receipt on the dinner table after your meal. A criminal could conveniently steal the endorsed duplicate receipt prior to the waitperson coming back around to pick it up from the dinner table. Don't take any risks.

Do You Really Need To Offer Your Social Security Number?

Additionally, an important way that you may protect against identity theft is to avoid giving out your social security number except when it is truly necessary. Although you need to share your social security number upon applying for a loan or for a bank account, on occasion a store or an organization will need to utilize it as an ID number, only to classify you in their network. This is an ordinary routine although the law says that social security numbers are not to be utilized as ID numbers. In these situations, use your rationality. There is usually a substitute if you question.

Destroy Forms That Contain Sensitive Personal Information

Purchase a paper shredder and apply it to terminate forms you're getting rid of which contain personal data such as credit card numbers, social security numbers, phone numbers and dates of birth. This is important to do both at home and at work. Identity thieves aren't above going through someone's trash to acquire valuable personal data that could help them get credit in your name.

If The Worst Happens

If you do turn into a victim of identity theft, take the following measures immediately:

* Communicate with your credit card companies, terminate your accounts and ask to have brand new cards sent to you.

* Put a fraud alert on your file with any 1 of the 3 major credit bureaus. The other 2 will be notified automatically.

* Put in a police report. You may be required to have it to show to creditors as evidence of the crime.

* Put in a complaint with the FTC, which maintains a database of identity theft cases utilized by law enforcement agencies for their investigations.