There's no limit to what a thief can steal. There's no limit to what a thief can steal - it may be your appliances, your vehicle, your money, or if you have any collectible items, those as well - today's thieves are smarter than ever. Some of these items are replaceable and some aren't. Some of these items may be covered by your insurance policy. But there are also items, like the aforementioned collectibles, that cannot simply be replaced with something else.
Your identity, though, is the most important thing that thieves are capable of stealing these days. This is a very common scenario in America, where an identity thief can pose as you to apply for a loan or a credit card, and get treated by the financial institution as if it was you yourself. Simply put, a thief would pretend to be you, use your information, and wait until the financial institution approves his/her application for credit.
This is a feeling that could make the calmest person freak out or the strongest person break down in tears. This is a silent crime that often takes place without you being aware. This can happen until the financial institutions get wind of what's happening, and this could often take quite a while. You may only find this out when you get a huge bill in the mail that details all sorts of outrageous purchases, or a call from the collections or fraud department.
It only gets worse. Then, your credit report will reflect negative information about you and your bill payment history. Your credit score will go from good to bad in no time flat and you will have a hard time getting a loan approved when it is really you who needs it at that time. The worst part of it all is that you will be guilty until proven innocent, a sad reality of being an unaware victim of identity theft.
Creditors will say you're late with payments and have run up an extraordinary high balance. They have the facts to prove it. If you failed to pay for any bills that you weren't aware of, they will have that in front of them. Worse, they may even take you to court. You will have to submit evidence that you should not pay for all those phony bills. It could be a long, drawn-out and costly process (due to the legal fees) to let the court know it's not your fault.
Your most deadly weapon in the war against credit identity theft is vigilance - you'll need a lot of it when guarding your financial information. You may have a joint account with your spouse or significant other - let communication be open when it comes to what's being charged. Be aware of any unusual high balances and expenditures. Look for late pays. Are there no unauthorized charges or payments on your statement?
Be alert to receiving an unusual amount of credit card offers. Crooks sometime make applications in your name by stealing the offers out of your mailbox. Take your name off these mailing lists. If you're late getting your financial and banking statements call the institution and find out why. This could be a sign that they are getting diverted to an address that isn't yours, or maybe stolen.
It's not your creditors' fault, though - always remember that. They're just reporting the facts as they know them. But don't expect to get any money back - this is just a preventive measure - the thief would usually get away scot-free.
Keep all valuable papers out of sight from visitors in your home. Check your credit reports frequently. And if there's something amiss, have it fixed right away. It could take up to three months to make reparations.
You stand to lose precious money and sometimes even your sanity as a result of credit identity theft. If you notice that something isn't quite right with your credit card statements or credit reports, don't waste any time and have the problem diagnosed and fixed. Good credit and your identity are so precious to you and your family. These are probably the most valuable assets you have. Guard your good name with your life!
Your identity, though, is the most important thing that thieves are capable of stealing these days. This is a very common scenario in America, where an identity thief can pose as you to apply for a loan or a credit card, and get treated by the financial institution as if it was you yourself. Simply put, a thief would pretend to be you, use your information, and wait until the financial institution approves his/her application for credit.
This is a feeling that could make the calmest person freak out or the strongest person break down in tears. This is a silent crime that often takes place without you being aware. This can happen until the financial institutions get wind of what's happening, and this could often take quite a while. You may only find this out when you get a huge bill in the mail that details all sorts of outrageous purchases, or a call from the collections or fraud department.
It only gets worse. Then, your credit report will reflect negative information about you and your bill payment history. Your credit score will go from good to bad in no time flat and you will have a hard time getting a loan approved when it is really you who needs it at that time. The worst part of it all is that you will be guilty until proven innocent, a sad reality of being an unaware victim of identity theft.
Creditors will say you're late with payments and have run up an extraordinary high balance. They have the facts to prove it. If you failed to pay for any bills that you weren't aware of, they will have that in front of them. Worse, they may even take you to court. You will have to submit evidence that you should not pay for all those phony bills. It could be a long, drawn-out and costly process (due to the legal fees) to let the court know it's not your fault.
Your most deadly weapon in the war against credit identity theft is vigilance - you'll need a lot of it when guarding your financial information. You may have a joint account with your spouse or significant other - let communication be open when it comes to what's being charged. Be aware of any unusual high balances and expenditures. Look for late pays. Are there no unauthorized charges or payments on your statement?
Be alert to receiving an unusual amount of credit card offers. Crooks sometime make applications in your name by stealing the offers out of your mailbox. Take your name off these mailing lists. If you're late getting your financial and banking statements call the institution and find out why. This could be a sign that they are getting diverted to an address that isn't yours, or maybe stolen.
It's not your creditors' fault, though - always remember that. They're just reporting the facts as they know them. But don't expect to get any money back - this is just a preventive measure - the thief would usually get away scot-free.
Keep all valuable papers out of sight from visitors in your home. Check your credit reports frequently. And if there's something amiss, have it fixed right away. It could take up to three months to make reparations.
You stand to lose precious money and sometimes even your sanity as a result of credit identity theft. If you notice that something isn't quite right with your credit card statements or credit reports, don't waste any time and have the problem diagnosed and fixed. Good credit and your identity are so precious to you and your family. These are probably the most valuable assets you have. Guard your good name with your life!
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