Tag Archives: victims of identity theft

Identity Theft Restoration

Identity Theft Restoration [2023 Update]

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When your identity is compromised

Every individual’s identity is unique to him or her. The problem with this is that there are many others who would love to take that away. They would like to steal identities in order to benefit themselves. Unfortunately this happens far more often than we would like to believe. In fact it is a crime that is so common that law enforcement worries that they are not able to prevent too many cases of this. However, there are things that you can do when if this situation arises in order to try to get your affairs back in order.

Identity theft restoration is the best possible first step. It is the process of trying to set everything in order after your identity has been stolen. The individual who was the victim of identity theft can sign a limited power of attorney. This will allow an identity theft expert to begin to work on your case.

There are things that you can to do as an individual to set your record straight. You are still going to have to fill out a police report and fill out the FTC fraud affidavit. Most of the work can actually be handled by a professional as you continue to try to move on with your life. After all, you will have to carry on in some way as your identity theft case is being worked through.

There are identity theft restoration programs that can also help individuals prevent this crime from occurring again. These programs can include notification to creditors, a complete review of your credit report to ensure accuracy and a dedicated case worker assigned to your case. You can use these tools to try to make sure that you are not a victim of identity theft or fraud in the future. It is also advised to change all online passwords in an attempt to thwart any hackers attempt to access your accounts.

Other things that are done to prevent identity theft from happening again include making sure that there are not others who are selling your identity. This sometimes happens when less then reputable companies sell off the information that they have gathered on their customers. Thus, it is important to review a business’s privacy policy prior to giving any sensitive information that you may not want to fall into the wrong hands.

How to Protect Against Identity Theft?

Identity theft can cause an individual or family to lose much of their financial life. They can take a huge hit to their credit score, retirement savings and much more. They can also be seen by the financial world as someone who is not credit worthy. It is something that can cause huge problems for those who have gone through this issue. Thus it is best to try to get these issues solved as quickly as possible. The best thing to do is to act quickly as soon as you suspect that you have had your identity stolen or been a victim of fraud.

Host Merchant Services offers tips on how to protect against Identity Theft

Tips to Prevent Identity Theft

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College students are commonly targeted for identity theft. Because they are such common victims of identity theft, Host Merchant Services recommends taking a few simple steps to protect your identity:

– Secure your mail.

Campus mailboxes are often easily accessed in a dorm or apartment. Have sensitive mail sent to a permanent address such as your parents’ home or invest in a secure post office box.

– Don’t share too much on social networks.

Studies have found that identity fraud can be twice as common for people who have been on social networking sites for five years or more. Javelin research found that those people not using privacy settings on their networks were at a higher risk of exposing crucial information to fraudsters. So to protect yourself, take the time to update and adjust your privacy settings for the various social networking media you utilize.

– Important documents should be securely stored.

All important documents you have should be stored somewhere safe. This includes your Social Security card, passport and bank and credit card statements. Shred all paper documents that contain sensitive financial information and any credit card offers that come in the mail.

– Never loan your credit or debit card to anyone.

If you feel the need to pay for a friend’s meal or a tank of gas, go with them instead. Avoid co-signing for a loan or other financing.

– Make sure your computer software is up-to-date.

Many public Wi-Fi systems can be susceptible to hackers, especially those that are not password-protected. Download updates to your antivirus and spyware software on a regular basis to keep your personal documents and information safe. Never use a shared computer workstation to pay bills or shop online.

– Check your credit and debit card statements frequently.

Look for any suspicious activity or purchases. The sooner you identify potential fraud, the sooner any fraudulent charges can be refunded to you.

– Start with trust.

When shopping on unfamiliar websites, always check for the BBB Accredited Business seal and click to confirm it is legitimate. If there’s no seal, check the company’s BBB Business Review at bbb.org.

– Check your credit report at least once a year.

Experian, Equifax and TransUnion each offer a free credit report once a year. Visit www.annualcreditreport.com to request a report and look for any suspicious activity or inaccuracies.

To check the reliability of a company and find trustworthy businesses, visit bbb.org.