It's a crime that could hit any of us. It doesn't matter how much you make or what you do, identity thieves don't discriminate. And in honor of Identity Theft Prevention Week, ABC2 News Joce Sterman is telling you how to protect yourself if those thieves get their hands on your sensitive information.
Something as simple as a dumpster can be a playground for identity thieves. The same is true with your mailbox and the internet. Fraudsters have nearly endless sources to find info that could be used to do a lot of damage.
But even if your stuff lands in the wrong hands, you can still protect yourself. Angie Barnett with the Better Business Bureau of Greater Maryland says, "Just because your information has been breached or compromised doesn't mean you're a victim of identity theft. So everybody needs to take a breath and relax."
Barnett says that while you don't have to panic, you do have to take quick action if you believe someone has gotten access to your vital stats. The first thing you need to do is contact your bank or credit card company if that information has potentially been compromised. Ask them to close the account or at the very least change account numbers.
In addition, you need to contact the three credit reporting agencies, Experian, Equifax and Transunion. Ask those credit bureaus ask for a “fraud alert” that will make it harder for someone to use your name to get credit. And check your credit reports to see not only if someone's opened new accounts, but also whether there have been "inquiries" about your credit. Barnett explains, "That will tell you whether someone is truly trying to use your identity."
And if you're really concerned, you can ask for a credit freeze that will block access altogether. Barnett says you should also monitor your credit by getting free reports from those three reporting agencies. If you stagger your requests, you can check your credit three times a year without spending a dime, keeping a close eye on your identity. Barnett tells ABC2, "A lot of this monitoring you can do yourself by getting those reports and watching those statements and that's your best defense." It’s a defense you’ll need against fraudsters who want to use your good name for their bad intentions.
