Are You Safe From Identity Theft?

Are you really safe from identity theft? Each day people are being attacked. So how would you feel if you got arrested for a crime you did not commit? The phone rings and creditors are harassing you saying you owe X amount of dollars despite the fact you do not have a credit card or you haven't used it in that month. What will you say to them?

Perhaps when you become a victim you will have the answers to these questions. But until then...

People say that identity theft is the "perfect crime" Everyone who is anyone can be a victim including children. The best way to prevent yourself from being the prey is learn about the crime. There are millions affected every year.

Once a thief decides to take your place in your life, it's almost impossible to get that life back. So you have not been a victim of ID theft, then do not take any risk that can harm those chances. ID theft is the type of crime that one person pretends to be another in sake of getting information, money or any other reasons. This is typically done for financial reasons and or criminal activity.

Information that the thieves look to get are the potential victim's complete name, their date of birth and any array of related data such as social security number, passport, driver's license number and credit card number.

Once the thief has any part of the information, he or she can use it to take over the victim's accounts. He or she can apply for loans and even purchase items and services.

The thief can also apply for medical benefits, education assistance and other personal finances. Just by creating or forging birth certificates or immigration documents, all this can be gotten when presented to the right agency who provides this type of help.

For those who are involved in this kind of crime either want to mislead police on who is committing the fraud or hide from police while they are pursuing the assailant. Some like to use the person's name to do larger crimes and do human trafficking and terrorism acts.

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) 29 percent of complaints come from individuals from people aged 18-29, 25 percent for 30-39 individual ages, 21 percent in from individuals in their 40s. 13 percent from the individuals in 50s. The remaining 10 percent come from those ages 60 and older.

Thieves target those who have an average income and those with good credit. Do not forget that even children can be victims of identity theft especially from their relatives...their parents mainly.

Even businesses, corporations and smell enterprises can be struck by identity theft by thieves disguising themselves as the top executives of the company. They withdrawal large sums of money which can topple business relations and its reputation.

This day and age, ID theft can be committed by gaining access to information systems and duplicating, although not the original, important documents. Afterwards, they can open new credit accounts and charging older ones.

Technological advances have made it possible for hackers to break into public databases and cracking important government sites.

There are seven ways to guard yourself from these thieves though not altogether foolproof.

- Make sure to never provide your Social Security number unless it is required;

- Shred important documents;

- Checks should only have your name and address;

- Carry only necessary documents needed for the day;

- Review credit reports regularly. Look for unauthorized accounts;

- Never give out private data on the phone.