The good news is identity theft over the past few years has decreased. But the fact of the matter is it still tops the list as the number one consumer complaint.
There's a lot of information going around when it comes to this criminal offense as well as a number of misconceptions which if you are not careful can have you moving in the wrong direction.
1. Safeguarding Your Social Security Number Is All You Have To Do
You will see this on the local and national news a lot. More than a few professionals may say this is all you have to do when it comes to guarding your identity. Regrettably that's not true. The reality is your identity can easily be stolen in a variety of ways without thieves even bothering your social security card. Among them is stealing your mail, shoulder surfing, setting up a skimming device at an ATM machine or just going through your trash also known as dumpster diving.
2. Any Fraudulent Charges Are Your Responsibility
Do not allow any company to force you into paying anything if you were the victim of identity theft. It is not your responsibility to pay any fraudulent charges thieves have put on your account. You will discover debt collectors do not care about that. They want the money and they want it now. No problem. As long as you remember you aren't the one doing the payback.
3. It Won't Happen To You
Famous last words. No doubt at one time or another many people who were victimized said the exact same thing. Identity theft spares no one. While it may be on the decline eight million people last year still had their identities stolen. Considering that the number usually hover around ten million as well as the alarming number of ways thieves can pilfer your information and there is little doubt identity theft can happen to you.
4. The Majority of People That Steal Your Identity Get Arrested
Since law enforcement and financial institutions have been more aggressive in dealing with identity theft you figure the arrest rate would be pretty good. Think again. According to studies done by the Gartner Group roughly 1 out of 700 people ever gets caught. No doubt you have seen news reports of law enforcement officials cracking a major fraud ring. This is true but day to day identity theft generally goes undetected let alone prosecuted.
5. Most Identity Theft Criminals Are Strangers To The Victim
Not true and this in many ways is what makes identity theft the epidemic that it is. Most thieves are someone the victim knows. A neighbor, friend, coworker, but mostly a family member. Which should give you a pretty good hint as to why many identity thieves never get thrown in jail. As bad as it is along with the damage done many people that have been victimized refuse to take the next step of preferring charges against their friends and/or loved ones.
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