Protecting yourself from ID theft

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- Consider an identity theft insurance policy to reimburse you for time and money spent recovering your identity.
- Worried that an unauthorized credit account has been opened in your name? Two major tools — fraud alerts and security freezes — can help consumers fight back against such an action.
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Take defensive action against ID theft by shredding old cards and statements and monitoring your credit and debit card activities.
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Be stingy about what you reveal on social networking services. Giving out key bits of your identity could make it easier for an identity thief to apply for a loan in your name or fool a customer service representative.
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Never put your Social Security number, birthdate, birthplace or other financial information on your resume.
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Worried that you may be a victim of credit fraud? Contact the three major credit reporting agencies: TransUnion, Experian and Equifax.
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Put parental blocks on computers used by teens.
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Periodically try to pull your child’s credit report. If you haven’t added your child as an authorized user to a credit card, your child shouldn’t have a credit report.
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Be alert to anyone trying to solicit personal information from you.
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Maintain anti-virus and anti-malware software on your personal computer.
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Strengthen passwords online. Don’t use the same password on multiple sites.
- ID theft happens when a fraudster uses your personal information — such as a Social Security, credit card or bank account number — to purchase goods and services
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12.6 million Americans were victimized by ID
theft in 2012, according to the Federal Trade Commission. -
Using plastic also makes you more vulnerable
to a data breach, which is when hackers gainaccess to the electronic transaction records
ofa store or payment processor.
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In 2012, 1 in 4 victims of a data breach who
received notification became victims of identityfraud, the highest rate since 2010, according to
Javelin Strategy & Research.
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Stagger your credit reports so you can receive one every four months.
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