Should you Pay for Identity Theft Protection?

Hand in hand with the growing problem of identity theft are the businesses that spring up surrounding the phenomenon. At times they may be selling tangible goods that will serve to safeguard your personal information.




At other times they offer something akin to an insurance policy that will fiscally reimburse you if any of your personal information is misused and you suffer loss as a result. Should you pay for identity theft protection such as this or is that overkill?




When it comes to identity theft, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Even as this adage will go with virtually any wrong and problem, it does especially ring true when it comes to your personal information.




Purchasing a locking rural mailbox and replacing your tried and true regular mailbox is the kind of identity theft protection that is well worth the money.




Shredders and computer firewalls, virus programs, and spyware protection software are all part and parcel of the kind of identity theft protection that is worth every penny.




On the other hand, the kind of programs that will offer insurance or reimbursement in case of identity theft need to be eyed with suspicion; in some cases these services will do little more than cause a notation to be put on your credit report that warns the agency against letting others see the file without written authorization by you.




This you can accomplish yourself within minutes and without having to pay for. Services that offer this kind of service as a major selling point are simply trying to capitalize on the misfortunes of others and it is a shame that they sell their wares as identity theft. My mentor Jay Peters is the founder of Consumer Publishing Group which publishes the Credit Secrets Bible (in print since 1994). To receive Free Credit Tips including “How to Bullet-Proof Yourself From Identity Theft For FREE!” visit their website




Other services that will offer bona fide remuneration in case of identity theft may be considered legitimate insurance policies, but it still is highly recommended that you understand the limitations before you sign up.

Identity Theft Protection Tips

When it comes to protecting yourself from identity theft it is a matter of keeping your personal information out of the hands of those who would use it for no good. You have to protect your mail and your email information. Protect your mail from thieves by purchasing a locking mailbox. This keeps your mail safe at all times especially when you are a way for a weekend or for a week.




Also instead of throwing out mail with your name, address or any other personal information you should shred it. This keeps others from being able to use your mail as proof of address. When it comes to protecting your identity on the Internet you have to be sure you are on a secure sight prior to entering any personal information.




You should never provide your phone number, bank account or social security number online. This is far too big of a risk for identity theft. Unfortunately there are hackers and scam artists who are waiting for personal information to come across the screen.




These people sell personal information to those who use it to make purchases under a stolen name. There are now companies who offer protection services that alert you when a purchase is made without your consent under your name. Credit card companies also offer similar services. Keeping your name, as you're own and protecting your credit is very important.




You work hard to build good credit and protecting that from being stolen from you or having your credit damaged is a must. Use common sense practices to keep your personal information safe. Purchase a shredder and talk to your family about keeping personal information safe also. You'll be thankful that you did especially the next time you are unfortunate enough to hear of someone else becoming a victim. My mentor Jay Peters is the founder of Consumer Publishing Group which publishes the Credit Secrets Bible (in print since 1994). To receive Free Credit Tips including “How to Bullet-Proof Yourself From Identity Theft For FREE!” visit their website




Identity theft is a major problem in today's world. It can affect anybody regardless of age or location. In order to make sure that you do not become the next victim, you will want to exercise extreme caution anytime you give out personal information. By doing this, you will ensure that your identity belongs only to you!

Facts About Identity Theft

Identity theft is the quickest growing crime in the nation. It is said to be the number one fraud crime at this time. The facts of how widespread this crime wave is will stun you. One quarter of identity theft victims from credit cards are unaware of where or how someone got a hold of their information.




You may be surprised to hear of all of the locations and paper work that provides thieves with your private information. IRS papers, online info. ebay, myspace, university theft and jury duty. These are all areas in which your name and other personal information is written down and accessible.




This is not only a state here or there but also a nationwide problem. Alarming, as this is many of the social security numbers that are being stolen are those of children. Since children have little need or use of their social security number until the age of 18, illegal immigrants use these numbers for years and years.




It is estimated that seven million illegal immigrants are using stolen social security numbers. This crime is a felony within the United States. It can be difficult to catch these criminals and just as hard to correct the fraudulent purchases made by these people. This is a serious danger as credit can be ruined and difficult to correct in the end.




This is serious for men, women and children. You have to be careful as to who sees your personal information. Shred paper work with personal information on it. Do not type personal information in emails or over the Internet. My mentor Jay Peters is the founder of Consumer Publishing Group which publishes the Credit Secrets Bible (in print since 1994). To receive Free Credit Tips including “How to Bullet-Proof Yourself From Identity Theft For FREE!” visit their website




Speak to your family about the dangers of identity theft. This is a risk that all of us face and as the crimes grow rapidly throughout the U.S. and other countries it is hard to say when we will see a decline in these crimes.

Guidelines for Preventing Identity Theft

Preventing identity theft is not a difficult task, as you simply have to put common sense into practice. Whenever you are through with any mail, prescription bottles or any other trash that contains your personal information you should shred what you can and black out info on pieces that cannot be shredded. This keeps those thieves who dig in trash searching for info to be left dirty and empty handed.




You also have to protect your information online. If you are interested in any information online that requires you to provide personal information, never provide your bank account or social security number. There are scam artists who will take your personal information and sell it to those who will use it to make purchases in your name running your credit.




You should also be wary when you use your credit cards or checks when shopping protect the visibility of these numbers as there are scam artists who will photograph your banking information for fraud use.




By following simple guidelines such as these you can ensure your personal information is safe from the eyes and hands of those who are up to no good. You should also be aware of your credit reports and what is on them as you can view for any criminal occurrences and report them if necessary.




Far too many times we believe that this can't happen to us but if you look you will find that your neighbor or even your sibling has had a level of this happen to you. My mentor Jay Peters is the founder of Consumer Publishing Group which publishes the Credit Secrets Bible (in print since 1994). To receive Free Credit Tips including “How to Bullet-Proof Yourself From Identity Theft For FREE!” visit their website




If you are looking for further information about identity theft protection, you can find an abundance of information online. By taking the time to provide yourself with knowledge of identity theft than you know how to protect yourself. Prevention is key to not becoming a victim of identity theft.