How can I protect myself from identity theft?

Paul F. Haas, Jr. — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 15:41:10 +0000

Identity theft is nothing new, but the “digital age” has made it easier than ever to gather, organize, and transmit large amounts of information—including the credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, and account information that identity thieves need to do their dirty work.

But the news isn’t all bad. The steps to protecting yourself from identity theft are simple. Make them a habit to lower your risk.

Keep your information safe.

Don’t give identity thieves a chance. There’s a lot you can do to protect your personal information:

Shred documents with personal information (including account numbers, or your Social Security number or birth date).
Shred credit card offers and other offers that a thief could make use of.
Protect your Social Security number. Don’t carry your Social Security card with you, in case your wallet gets stolen, and don’t write it on your checks.
Only give out personal information if you know the person or group you’re dealing with and you initiated the contact—whether by phone, mail, or Internet.
Instead of clicking the link in an unsolicited email, type in the web address yourself. (Email links can redirect you to a scammer’s site, tricking you into entering personal information in an unsafe place.)
Make your password hard to guess. Choices like your birth date, mother’s maiden name, or Social Security number are too obvious. Instead, try a random or made-up word, and include at least one number.

Will my homeowners cover me for Identity theft?

Paul F. Haas, Jr. — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:40:33 +0000

There are two issues with regard to identity theft which must be addressed:

How am I covered if money is stolen from my account or my credit is used to purchase something?
How to I restore my good name if I am the victim of identity theft?

In many cases the bank or credit card issuer will replace the lost stolen money or remove the charges from a credit card account under “zero liability” provisions they provide as part of their credit card protection plans. These banks and credit card issuers request that accounts and credit cards be cancelled as soon as the fraud is discovered so that damages can be limited.

In order to restore your good name you must prove to credit agencies that it was a fraudulent act that caused the problems with your accounts. That means that affadavits must be filed with each credit card issuer and credit rating agency detailing the circumstances under which the fraud occured. This can take hundreds of hours depending on the extent of the fraud.

One way to avoid the time consuming task and high costs of restoring your credit is to purchase Identity Restoration Coverage. This endorsement to a home policy affords up to $25,000 for fees associated with restoring your identity. The cost of this endorsement is $40.00 per year—well worth the cost.

The Haas Agency » fraud

How can I protect myself from identity theft?

Will my homeowners cover me for Identity theft?