Friday, February 15, 2013

Taking Charge When Identity Fraud Happens To You


Identity fraud is when someone else takes your personal information and uses it to his own advantage without permission. There are several ways to provide yourself with identity theft prevention. Here are the top tips we recommend:
Make sure you check your credit account for any unusual activity such as unexplained withdrawals or payments and purchases you didn’t make.
If something unusual is found, immediately place an initial fraud alert. Inform your credit card companies of the situation. You may need to provide additional verification of your identity. This way, it prevents anyone from making any credit issues without your express permission.
If the identity thief persists in using your personal information to obtain credit, you also have the right to “freeze” your account. Make sure to ask whether there might be a fee for doing this. After you have done this, the credit reporting company will tell you how to get a copy of your credit report, which you may need later on.
If you are aware which businesses have been tampered with, contact and inform those companies of your situation.
File a report at your local police station. Provide them with as much information as you can and what steps you have already taken. Make sure to take a copy of the police report with you as this may come in handy when you want to create an extended fraud alert.
Last of all, do not give in. Never pay any bills or cover any checks that were a result of fraud and most important of all is to get an identity theft protection that helps you with restoration. You can learn more about this by visiting IDSmarter solutions right away.

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Get Yourself Protected with Identity Theft Protection 24/7


Even if the thief who stole another person’s identity may be arrested, recovering the damage of identity theft is still very difficult, expensive, and not to mention time-consuming. Here are some tips to prevent you from undergoing that ordeal and get your identity highly protected 24/7.

  • Regular checking of your credit report should be undertaken on a consistent basis. See if there is any incorrect information or accounts that you don’t know about.

  • Get a cross-cut shredder and start shredding any sensitive personal document you come across instead of throwing them away. Identity thieves are usually on the prowl at your garbage, looking for any piece of information they can get.

  • Don’t entertain solicitors who ask about your financial and personal information over the phone, on the premise of ‘verifying your identity.’ A lot of scams happened this way; someone will pose as a solicitor out to verify your bank or credit card details and that he is solving a particular problem with your account. If you are not aware of any issues with your bank and credit card company, call them directly and ask to talk to somebody you know to be a genuine employee from these companies. Should this happen to you, hang up and make a call yourself to the security department of your bank or credit card provider.

Lastly, get an identity theft protection provider that has ample experience within the industry. ID Smarter is one such service provider where you can get your identity protected at all times. Not only that, they also offer restoration services should the unfortunate incident of losing your identity to thieves happen. Find out more about their identity protection program solutions by checking out https://www.idsmartsite.com