Remember the days when protecting your personal and financial information meant watching out for pickpockets and purse-snatchers? In today’s technology-driven world, thieves have developed much more cunning and sophisticated ways to steal your identity.
Despite severe penalties – those convicted face up to 20 years in prison – identity theft is now the nation’s fastest-growing crime, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. More than 10 million people become victims of identity theft each year.
Thieves not only use their victims’ identities to open bank and credit card accounts, they also rent or buy property, commit other crimes and misdemeanors and even obtain employment in their victims’ names.
A credit report can let you know if someone has used your credit card without your knowledge or applied for a credit card in your name. It doesn’t show everything, however. According to Harold Kraft, founder and chief executive officer of MyPublicInfo Inc., credit reports miss the most critical information. What you need, Kraft says, is a background check on yourself.
“Over a year ago, I had an...