Identity theft
is among the fastest growing crimes in America, and perpetrators
are getting more sophisticated and adept at stealing the information
they need to take over someone else’s credit cards and bank
accounts. More than 10 million Americans and one in five families
have experienced identity theft in the past year. During that
same time period, consumers invested an estimated 300 million
hours and $5 billion to resolve related issues.
Identity theft is among the fastest growing crimes
in America, and perpetrators are getting more sophisticated and
adept at stealing the information they need to take over someone
else’s credit cards and bank accounts. More than 10 million
Americans and one in five families have experienced identity theft
in the past year. During that same time period, consumers invested
an estimated 300 million hours and $5 billion to resolve related
issues.
Yet many consumers are unaware of its consequences and the tools
available to protect their families. Here are five easy ways you
can help protect your family from becoming one of these statistics.
* Consider purchasing the Equifax Credit Watch Family Program,
a family discounted credit monitoring package available at www.equifax.com.
Utilizing Equifax Credit Watch Gold, the service automatically
alerts consumers within 24 hours of credit file changes indicating
possible identity theft. The program also features $20,000 in
identity theft insurance, as well as victim assistance with an
identity theft specialist for step-by-step guidance and problem
resolution.
* Lock it up. Make sure you keep all financial information and
personal records locked at all times, especially if you have a
housekeeper or guest in the house.
* Watch the mailbox. Mail theft is among the most common forms
of identity theft. Criminals can gain most of the information
they need to commit the crime right in your mailbox.
* Shred it. Shred all sensitive documents before disposing of
them.
* Don’t let hackers crack your credit code. Be sure the
virus protection software on your computer is current and never
to open attachments from strangers. Other safety tips include
using firewall programs and secure browsers with high-level encryption
and password protecting any sensitive documents stored on his
computer. Also, never discard a computer without erasing all personal
information. Office supply stores sell “wipe programs”
for this purpose.
For more information about protecting your family from identity
theft, contact Equifax at www.equifax.com.
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