Hollywood superstar Will Smith and former NBA player Steve Smith had their identities stolen by the same man!
Does being enrolled in a Credit Monitoring service get you more easily approved for credit cards?
I am offered this service for free for one year through my job, and i would like to know if being enrolled in a Credit Monitoring service which includes total protection from identity theft, can improve your chances when applying for credit cards and loans.
Or is it simply just good for protecting you from fraudelent charges?
Mmmm… Definitely not a youtube ****.
Credit card identity theft is on the rise, and if you are not careful you could become a victim and lose hundreds or even thousands of pounds. Your identity is your most precious thing, and if someone gets hold of it they can make it look like you have spent vast sums and got yourself into debt. By the time you know the money has been spent, the thieves might have racked up many different credit card debts, as well as other loans and financial products. It pays to know how to prevent identity theft, so here are some tips about how to do just that.
Be careful with mail offers
One of the most common ways that thieves can get hold of information is to intercept or remove from rubbish credit card mail offers. Although many people remember to get rid of bills and other items properly, they forget about these items, as they believe they are junk mail. However, many of them have information about you on them and only require a thief to sign the document and send it back to obtain a credit card. If they get the card before you do then they can spend money in your name. Make sure that you properly shred or dispose of any financial mail, whether you think it is junk mail or not.
Keep all records safe
Apart from destroying unwanted mail, you have to make sure that any letters or records that you want to keep are stored safely. Although many people store their records safely at home, they forget about new records such as bank statements when they are out and about. Many people have their information stolen by leaving a bank statement lying around whilst at work or out somewhere. Make sure this does not happen by keeping all your important documents safe and secure.
Be safe online
Another way that thieves can steal your information is through the Internet. Make sure that you only use your credit card on web sites that you trust, and never give your information to over an email or phone call. Make sure that the page where you enter your details is secure using HTTPS, and try and limit your online credit card use to your home computer rather than in public places.
Check your statements
The trouble with identity theft is that you don’t usually know it has occurred until it is too late. The best way to stop identity theft before it gets out of hand is to regularly check your credit card statements. You also keep all your receipts and compare them with your statement so you will easily be able to see if there is anything out of place. If there is something on your statement that looks wrong or odd, contact your card issuer immediately and they will be able to help you.
You are covered
Although identity theft can be a big problem, if you can prove that you did not buy any items or give up your information, then your card issuer should be able to refund all or part of the money that was taken. If you follow these simple steps then you will be less likely to become a victim of credit card identity theft.
By: Peter Kenny
About the Author:
Is there a way to know if your identity has been stolen? thank you
identity theft?
Okayy My mom has Dsl On AT&T she has our phone and internet on it well we use to live next door and we moved next door plz dont ask, And we swiched our phone my mom has great credit!!
My aunt moved next door shes doesnt have papers and we do well she has bad credit she called and ssaid she wa my mom and made a line up well she always got our mail today my mom got it and she found a letter.
It said she owes $1,000 in another phone line that was never mad they gave her the number and it was my aunts or was. What can my mom do???
And i know if she calls the number what will they do?
PLZ help ASAP cause my mom is giving them till friday to pay and if they dont shes calling the cops can she do that???
I have been put on house arrested until my court date the crime they are charging me with is credit card fraud but when my lawyer talked to me he said they have added Identity theft to the 1st charge so now it credit card fraud and identity theft.
How long of a sentence do you get for these two crimes?
Will i skip jail and go to prison?
i mean i’m on house arrest
Last night me and some friends went to a karokee bar. I ordered two non-alchoholic pepsis, he ordered two bears. The bar wiatress asked my friend or I for a credit card to hold onto. My friend refused to hand over a credit card as did I. Both of us had plans to pay cash.
Due to identity theft both of us refuse to let our credit cards in the hands of a total stranger. Bar tenders loose credit cards, give credit cards to the wrong person and sometimes steal credit card numbers.
The only credit card my friend had with him was Discover. For me all I had was a discover credit card. The bar waitress said the credit card has to be a visa or mastercard. We both said all we have is cash and a Discover card.
If the bar did take Discover we still would have refused to hand over our cards when we are paying cash.
My friend offerred the bar waitress a $100 bill and she still asked for a credit card. Even though numerous times we explained that we are paying cash and don’t carry Visa or Mastercards.
Finally my friend handed the bar waitress $40 and that was that.
Many people don’t even have credit or debit cards? How are they supposed to go to a bar.
I called the manager and he told me that you can walk up to the bar and pay cash for each drink without leaving a credit card. The manager also told me that you can pay a bar waitress cash right up front for each drink if you don’t want to leave a credit card.
The manager told me their policy is new as of Jnauary 1st 2009. This bar has been around since 1971.
How should me or my friend handle this in the future if we want to go to a bar and not leave a credit card and pay cash.
I want to apply for a passport to leave the country for Australia next year for a honeymoon. How does a person go about to see if their identity was stolen? Who do you contact, who do you talk to? Thank you!
