| The crime of identity theft is probably one | | | | "Occupant" goes into the shredder. |
| of the fastest growing crimes of this | | | | |
| century. The reason for that is because far | | | | Another way this happens is in restaurants, |
| too many people make it way to EASY to have | | | | and unfortunately, even some of the nicer |
| themselves be a victim of identity theft, and | | | | restaurants. Dinner has come and gone and |
| they do not take the task of protecting | | | | you are enjoying the ambiance of this |
| themselves against identify theft seriously | | | | restaurant and the company of your spouse and |
| enough. | | | | perhaps some guests. The waiter or waitress |
| | | | brings the check, and you pick it up, glance |
| What happens in a case of identity theft? | | | | at it, then lay it back on the table with |
| Basically, the thief "becomes" you, opens | | | | your credit card. BIG MISTAKE. What happens |
| loan accounts, charge cards, and credit cards | | | | is that your credit card has left your sight |
| in your name, then disappears into the | | | | for a period of time - more than enough time |
| sunset, never to be seen again. In the | | | | for a possible thief to write down your |
| meantime, the first that you become aware of | | | | credit card information, your expiration |
| it is when you start getting calls from | | | | date, your CCV code (that three or four digit |
| lenders and creditors that you have never | | | | code on the back of your card), and get the |
| heard of and where you "know" you do not have | | | | bill back to you. You do not know what has |
| an account, asking when you going to start | | | | happened to your credit card while it was out |
| making payments or is there a problem? But | | | | of your sight. Chance is good that nothing |
| by then, it is far too late. | | | | is going to happen with your credit card, but |
| | | | what if it does? You just gave the thief |
| Let's back up a step. How does identity | | | | everything they wanted to start a spending |
| theft occur? Identity theft occurs when a | | | | spree, and in the online world, all you need |
| third becomes you. That is done by a thief | | | | is a credit card, expiration date, and CCV |
| going through your trash and coming up with | | | | number. |
| something that has your unique identifiers on | | | | |
| it. If you have decent or good credit, you | | | | Do not allow yourself to become a victim of |
| probably get these pre-approved cards in the | | | | identity theft. Be very aware of where you |
| mail all the time for credit cards and loan | | | | are and who you are with. If it is necessary |
| accounts. What do you do with these offers? | | | | to pay for a meal like at a restaurant with a |
| Do you simply throw them in the trash? If | | | | credit card, ask the waiter to bring the bill |
| so, you are putting yourself at risk for | | | | to your table. With the rising amount of |
| identify theft, as much of America does. | | | | crime that is seen this way, most waiters |
| Instead, invest in a small shredder, probably | | | | will think nothing of the request. They can |
| under $50 at Best Buy, Circuit City, or your | | | | get credit authorization just with the |
| local office supply store, and shred | | | | account number, not with CCV or expiration |
| documents such as those. Anything that has | | | | date. The bottom line is not to make |
| identifiable information on it other than | | | | yourself an easy target. |