Identity theft has been named "The Crime of the 21st Century"! Each
year it costs millions of people Internationally. Total losses for
this crime have proven to be in the Billions for Consumers &
Businesses. Identity theft is an absolute epidemic and a crime in
which an imposter obtains vital pieces of information such as
drivers license, social security number or health card information
and uses it for their own gain. Identity theft can come in many
forms. In all cases, victims are left with a ruined credit record,
or criminal history and the complicated mission of regaining their
good reputation. Identity theft is a constantly evolving crime and
criminals are following advancements in technology.
Almost everything you do, or everywhere that you go to, on a daily
basis has your confidential information! The doctors, dentists,
accountants, schools, places of employment, banks, insurance
companies, lawyers, credit unions and lenders all need to have
access to your information just to provide you with their services.
Sometimes there are criminally minded staff among them and until
they are discovered, you are in jeopardy. Everyone takes
precautions to prevent this from happening, but at times it is out
of the employers hands. In other instances companies and people throw
away their personal information in the trash without shredding it.
This allows for what we call "dumpster-diving" which is popular with
individuals as they can obtain things like bank statements, utility
bills and even insurance info which can be used to assume your
identity. Damage is done to those people who have not protected
their own identity or who don't know how to protect themselves.
Yes the companies and persons who are compromising your identity are
getting fairly tricky. However, with the help of Integrity Identity
International you will be informed and ready to navigate through the
various number of schemes they can come up with. We have seen them
all and have a multitude of safeguards to prevent you from falling
victim.
Credit files are the windows into your private life. Financial
Institutions and Merchant Corporations look at your credit history
to figure out your credit-worthiness. It’s to your advantage to know
what your credit report says, even before you apply for credit. That
way you can correct any inaccurate data and uncover any schemes you
may have been unknowingly involved in. It can take up to six months
for credit reporting agencies to make a change in your credit
report, so give yourself at least that long before you start
shopping for a mortgage, car or any other large purchase.
There are many ways criminals can collect your private information.
For example a well known scam involves the victim receiving an email
from a person posing as a human resource director with well-known
companies after responding to a posting on a job board. The email
suggests interest in the applicant and requests a background check
as part of the employment process. The con artist claims the
applicant will begin work and requests that a background check start
immediately. The victim provides the required information and is
left spending the next five years cleaning up his/her credit.
It is vital for you to understand that with the rise in identity
theft and fraud, you may have no idea that someone has assumed,
ruined your identity, or opened new accounts until they default on
loans, or collection agencies start calling you. Don't let this
happen to you. Don't get left in the dark.
Send an Identity Theft prevention. Our Customer
Care Consultants are awaiting
