Essay On Becoming A Victim Of Identity Theft

Becoming a victim of identity theft is devastating, and sadly it happens everyday and it can happen to anyone. Although it can be messy and time-consuming to clear your name after being a identity theft victim, there are many precautions you can take in order to prevent becoming a victim. Keeping your purse or wallet near you, ridding of any old personal information, annually checking your credit report, and mail placement are ways to prevent yourself from becoming a victim of identity theft. You should never think that it couldn’t happen to you. There are many things you can do to lessen your risk of becoming an identity theft victim. Only carry items that you need in your wallet and leave the rest at home. If you own any old or rarely

Many people may hang their bag or purse which contains their private information on the back of their chair or underneath their chair. This is not safe and is also an easy way to become a victim of identity theft. If you have mail delivered to your home, having a lockable mailbox can ensure your safety from identity theft. If you do not have a lockable mailbox, you can have your checks mailed to your bank where you can pick them up instead of them being unprotected in your mailbox. Having your mail sent to a post office is one of the safest ways to prevent theft because it requires a key for entry, and there are many cameras inside of a post office. Also, when mailing checks, use drop boxes instead of in your mailbox to prevent them from being stolen easily. Checking your credit report yearly is a great way to stay protected because you’ll become aware of any thefts sooner. Equifax, Transunion, and Experian are trusted websites that will show you your report for a fee. Not only does checking you’re your report prevent you from becoming a victim it’s also a good way to rebuild or maintain your credit, and manage your personal finances. Checking your credit report regularly can do damage to your credit score, it should only be done