Identity Theft - The facts you need to know

Identity Theft - What You Need To Know

It's the fastest growing crime in the world and we all need to be taking precautions against identity theft right now.

The trouble is there is so much misinformation flying around that most of us don't know what it is we should actually be doing to protect ourselves from identity theft.

Should you pay a company such as Lifelock to guard your identity and if you do, does it even work?

With so many pending court cases pending for Lifelock, will they even be around to protect you?

Only you can decide what level of action you should take to guard your identity from the risk of theft. Whether you decide to protect yourself or use a company like Lifelock, you need to act sooner rather than later before it is too late.

Thousands of Americans are becoming victims of identity theft every single day. The Governments own figures say 4 million of us were victims last year. That's a staggering 11000 a day or 450 an hour!

Most people don't realize that the steps Lifelock take to protect your identity can easily be done themselves with a couple of phone calls.

What to do if you fall victim to identity theft.

Expect to be a victim of identity theft and stay one step ahead of the process by planning.

When you report that you’re a victim, a lot of detailed information will be required. Make copies of all credit cards and social security cards. Keep a list of the numbers to call in case of theft and keep at least two copies in different locations. If your wallet is stolen, this is not a good place to keep the list.

Different types of identity thefts require notification to different authorities. You can start with your local police department but many times they will only take the information by phone or not at all.

Be persistent because some companies require a copy of the police report to initiate action. Also be specific and notify the proper company that pertains to your theft such as check theft, credit card, social security, phone service, drivers license or passport theft.

If your credit card has been stolen, call your card company. Other agencies you may want to call include the Federal Trade Commission, Social Security Administration and the office of the Attorney General. It’s good to notify these agencies in an effort to establish if any pattern can be seen which shows someone is using your credit file..