Identity Theft - Criminals And Your Identity - How Can You Beat Them!
Posted on October 20, 2008 | Filed Under
Identity Theft Fraud
These very minute, sophisticated criminals around the world are trying to steal your Identity. The question is: How can you avoid this disaster and the potential complete destruction of your credit.
How many of you have already been a victim of someone mishandling or losing your personal data? Think further. How many of you know a friend or family member who has been a victim of ID theft? When these questions are asked in a seminar, almost every hand is in the air at the end of the second question.
When you consider an ID theft experience, both personally or among family or friends, it is very obvious the standard, Oh, it wont happen to me, is a dangerous belief. So, just how do the thieves get your identity and endeavor to destroy your hard-earned credit reputation?
First, take a look at some compelling statistics:
ID Theft is considered by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to be the fastest growing crime in America today. Consider the following and remember that real people make up these facts:
1. The FTC states that 1 in 4 US Households have been a victim of ID theft.
2. Over the last 5 years 28mm Americans have been victims.
3. There were over 10 million victims last year alone.
4. The average victim spends 175 hours resolving credit issues.
5. The average victim will spend $1,700.00 in out-of-pocket expenses.
7. Most (89%) of the victims were unaware that their identity had been stolen.
8. The usual victim will need 2 to 5 years to clear-up resulting credit related problems. Imagine trying to apply for a house loan, college loan or car loan during this time frame.
Identity theft monitoring consists of the following:
1. Trained Fraud Resolution Counselors who assist employees with the immediate steps to be taken to prevent future fraud, placing fraud alerts on credit reports, reviewing credit reports with the victim and placing credit freezes on accounts (allowed in some states), helping to dispute fraudulent debts on accounts and credit reports and assisting in correspondence to creditors and State and Federal authorities.
2. Credit Monitoring Services to detect smoke before the fire of ID theft burns the house of credit to the ground. The best defense to guarding ones good credit is to quickly discover any unauthorized credit activity. It should include: Continuous credit file monitoring, alerts for suspicious activity, notification of any new accounts opened and any address changes.
3. Identity Theft Fraud Expense Reimbursement: Coverage should cover fraud-related expenses, such as: Lost wages, notary and certified mailing costs for letters and fraud affidavits, long distance charges, reasonable attorneys fees (especially if arrested), defense costs and refilling fees for loans.
4. Legal Consultations: Should include no cost initial consultations and fee reductions (fixed or hourly) on civil litigation issues, cost recovery, defense fees for wrongful debt claims, failure of a reporting agency to remove negative/incorrect credit information and wrongful arrest and criminal charges.
5. Financial Coaching: Experienced Financial Counselors who are both Certified Credit Counselors and Certified under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. These counselors help individuals to restore their credit file to its pre-theft condition, by providing credit counseling, credit report analysis and tax planning, all of which are usually seriously impacted when an ID theft occurs.
My Secure Advantage is a full service credit counseling company specializing in Identity theft prevention. Other services include money coaches to help with your financial present and future. For more information on Credit monitoring, please visit our website or call us toll free at 1-888-724-2326
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