A document shredder may be one of the most effective methods of preventing identity theft. Shredding your important papers makes it difficult for identity thieves to get and use your name, address, social security number, credit card numbers, banking account numbers, and other important personal information that they can use to hijack your identity.
Identity theft is scary. Someone can take your identity away from you and make you suffer for years in an effort to clear it up. Not only does identity theft ruin you financially, it can hurt you psychologically, physically, and legally.
When an identity scam artist uses your credit to make purchases, you can and, in many cases, will be held liable until you prove that you are innocent of any wrong doing. Identity theft should never be taken lightly. It may not seem that serious, but it is. All you have to do is hear some of the horror stories of identity theft victims, then you will understand how devastating it really is.
Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes that cost Americans over $5 billion each year. These statistics are compiled and released by the FBI, the National Crime Prevention Council, and other law enforcement agencies.
Did you know that nearly 10 million people have their identities stolen each year? This is no small number. As a victim, you may have to spend over 600 hours of your time and, on average, an additional $1500 of your own money as a cost to correct the damage. Much of this time and money will be spent trying to rebuild your credit score and your personal finances.
•Most cases of identity theft is committed by family members, friends, neighbors, and in-home employees.
•Don't leave anything lying around the home that contains your social security, bank, or credit card numbers on them.
•Credit cards should be stored in a safe place, and if you keep them in your wallet or handbag, take them out on a frequent basis to make sure that they are still there.
•Check your credit report on a regular basis and question anything that you feel is not valid.
•File a police report if you feel that someone has stolen your identity or used your credit in any unauthorized way.
A personal document shredder can cost as little as $45 and you can find them on sale for less. It is an important and necessary expense if you want to prevent someone from taking your identity and ruining your credit.