What Is Identity Theft?

Identity Theft is the Fastest Growing Crime in America:

• It occurs when someone steals your personal information and uses it fraudulently
  
  
• It can cost you time and money
  
  
• It can destroy your credit and ruin your good name
  
  
• Only 1 in 100 Identity Thieves are caught
  
  
• Only 1 in 700 Identity Thieves are prosecuted

 

How Does Identity Theft Happen?

Identity thieves may:

• Go through your trash or “dumpster dive” 
  
  
• Steal your wallet or purse
  
  
• Steal your mail or submit a change of address form for your mail
  
  
• Use “phishing” or fake emails to get you to provide personal information
  
  
• Steal personnel records from their employers
  
  
• Obtain your information from a corporate or government information data loss
  

 

The 5 Major Types of Identity Theft

Identity theft is not just about credit cards: 

Financial Identity Theft - Thieves use your information to open new credit or bank accounts or to gain access to existing accounts

Driver’s License Identity Theft - Thieves use your information to acquire a driver’s license in your name or claim to be you during a traffic stop

Social Security Identity Theft - Thieves use your SSN Identity to gain employment or to report income under your name

Medical Identity Theft - Thieves use your information for insurance benefits, Rx, Medicare, Medicaid benefits, or for medical tests

Criminal Identity Theft - Thieves mask their criminal activity behind your identity

 

Personal Steps to Protect Yourself

Don’t give out personal information on telephone, mail or Internet unless you initiated contact or you are sure with whom you are speaking

Shred all documents before discarding which contain any personal data

Keep personal information in a safe place (Locking File Cabinet)

If fraud is discovered contact local police and file a complaint with the FTC

 

Build a Defense for You and Your Family

Monitoring Services - Monitoring credit activity is the single best method to detect identity theft, but… monitoring services do just that, only monitor.  They notify you that the nightmare is beginning but do nothing to help you solve the problem. (Incomplete Solution)

Resolution Services - Resolution Services provide phone consultation for you, which is vital, but it is not enough… these services only provide guidance, leaving you to clear your good name. Many of these services also offer insurance, but this only covers your expenses incurred during recovery and NOT your actual losses from identity theft. (Incomplete Solution)

Restoration Services - Restoration means that experienced professionals, not you, do the work to clear your name which can save hundreds, possibly thousands of hours of work and thousands of dollars in expenses. Watch out for resolution services which claim to be a restoration service. (Incomplete Solution)

YOUR BEST SOLUTION

A Plan That Combines Monitoring, Restoration, and Access to an Attorney - Restoration Services provide incredible support, but they do not include monitoring services or legal help. For the more serious forms of identity theft you will need the help of an attorney.

Click Here for complete details on the Family Protection Plan