12 Tips For Single Mom's To Prevent Identity Theft

If You Think Identity Theft Couldn't Happen to You…

According to the Federal Trade Commission, almost 10 million+ Americans had their identity stolen, at a cost of about 50 billion dollars last year.

When someone uses your social security number, takes out loans or opens credit cards in your name, steals your bank account number and makes withdrawals, racks up charges on your credit card, or writes fraudulent checks on your account, that’s identity theft.

How Does Identity Theft Happen?

A thief may steal paid bills or pre-approved credit offers from your mailbox or, when your mail is wrongly delivered, or simply snatches your purse.

Some thieves, known as “dumpster divers,” go through your trash looking for discarded bills, receipts and phone cards.

Many years ago, I threw away an AT&T phone card because I didn’t want to use it, but someone went through my garbage, found it, sold it, and I had hell to pay to prove that I didn't make almost $2,000 in long distance phone calls.

Don’t Be a Victim of Identity Theft

Learn what you need to do to protect yourself from identity theft with the following 12 tips:

1. Buy a crosscut shredder:  The kind that turns paper into confetti, and feed financial statements, pre-approved credit offers, canceled checks, other sensitive paper-work through it.
2. Set your garbage on the curb the day of trash pickup, not the night before. Thieves have less time, and less darkness to dig through your garbage.
3. Drop paid bills and other money-filled mail at the post office or, in an official U.S. Postal Service mailbox.
4. Pick up new checks at the bank instead of having them mailed to your home (even though they’re cheaper). Or, get them sent by registered mail so you have to sign for them. Nowadays, they’re mailed in a plain wrapper for security.
5. Limit the amount of personal information on your checks. Only add your telephone or driver’s license number if the merchant requires it, and never give your social security number. A legitimate retailer won’t need it.
6. Only carry the credit and bankcards you need, not every one you own. And, don’t keep your social security card in your wallet. Store it in a safe place. If a thief steals your wallet, it’s one less piece of information they have.
7. Cancel credit cards you rarely use. Having fewer open accounts makes you less vulnerable to identity theft.
8. Write down all your credit card account numbers and expiration dates, as well as the names, phone numbers, and addresses of each creditor so you can call them if the cards get stolen. Store this information in a safe place.
9. Pay attention to when you usually receive bills and statements, and be on the lookout for them. If one hasn't arrived within a few days of its normal date, call the company who sent it and let them know it may have been stolen.
10. Carefully check each statement and bill as soon as you receive it. Look for charges you didn't make. This is crucial because thieves think most people don’t check their statements or, will ignore small reoccurring amounts. Report them immediately to the company billing you or your bank.
11. Request copies of your credit report every year.
12. Opt out of pre-approved credit card offers, and give thieves less to steal.

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