ID Theft Prevention During the Holidays

Of all the things on your Christmas wish list this year, identity theft is probably not one of them. But if you weren’t one of the millions of people who had their identities stolen this year, you certainly have a reason to be thankful this Thanksgiving.

According to Javelin Strategy & Research’s 2011 Identity Fraud Survey Report on ID theft prevention, the number of identity theft victims actually decreased by 28% from 2010 to 2011. That might sound like a positive statistic until you know that 8.1 million adults in the United States reported their identity was stolen in 2011. In fact, identity theft is still the fastest growing crime in America. Part of the decrease can be attributed to consumers enrolling in ID theft prevention and recovery services such as Entrust America.

But before we dig deeper into the benefits of ID theft prevention services, let’s first take a look at a few of the most prevalent forms of identity theft during the holidays and what you can do to protect yourself:

* Phishing: Phishing is one of the costliest forms of identity theft. It occurs when identity thieves make carbon copies of trusted websites and branded email communications used by banks, retailers, and other businesses to trick you into providing financial information. If you make a purchase through a website, make sure it is secure by verifying that the URL has an “s” after the “http” so that it reads https://. The “s” means there is a secure connection. Also, never provide personal information in email correspondence (entities like your bank will never ask for private information like your Social Security number in an email).

* Electronic pickpockets: There was a time not too long ago when you only had to worry about a pickpocket stealing your wallet. These days advanced technology has made it much easier for thieves to get their hands on your personal information. Electronic credit card readers allow identity thieves to scan and steal your credit card information. You won’t even know it’s happened until you check your bank account. Thieves place a device within the frame of the card slot that collects your information. Although this type of ID theft is difficult to prevent, you can reduce the risk by only withdrawing funds from your bank’s ATM and avoiding ATMs at malls and other high-traffic locations.

* Credit cards: Always monitor your statements, but especially during the holidays when your identity is most vulnerable. Use credit cards rather than debit cards whenever possible because credit card companies can suspend payments, whereas debit cards are essentially like cash and it can be more difficult to restore funds.

* Important numbers: Choose passwords carefully. Don’t use birthdates, pet names, or other identifiable information, as sophisticated identity thieves can easily crack these passwords and expose you to identity theft. Never keep your Social Security number, checking account number, or PIN in your wallet. Store them in a safe place at home.

* Facebook: We all know that Facebook is one of the most popular social media websites in the world. While it’s a great way to keep in touch with family, friends, and businesses, Facebook also is a hotbed for identity theft—especially during the holidays when people are exchanging season’s greetings. Limit the amount of personal information you provide on your profile. Never make public your birth date or contact information. The best way to ensure your profile won’t be seen by the prying eyes of identity thieves is to make it private so only your friends and family can see your posts.

* Shred, shred, shred: We get junk mail all year round but it increases during the holidays when retailers and credit card companies are offering “special deals.” Shred any letters or offers that contain personal information.

Identity theft is a huge problem and without ID theft prevention—especially during the holidays—you may have to spend countless hours next year trying to restore your identity. More purchasing activity during the holidays combined with unaware consumers creates an ideal hunting ground for identity thieves.

The best thing you can do today to begin protecting your identity is to enroll in an ID theft prevention service. But not all of these services were created equal. The Identity Advocate only endorses one identity theft prevention and recovery service: Entrust America. It’s the only company with a 100% track record of recovering stolen identities over the past five years.

The holidays are approaching just as fast as identity thieves’ new strategies for stealing your identity. Safeguard your identity during the holidays and all year long by signing-up for the best ID theft prevention and recovery service. Learn more about what you can do to protect your identity by visiting www.TheIdentityAdvocate.com or calling 310.831.4400.