jetdawgg
09-30-10, 06:48 AM
Identity theft affects 9 million Americans each year. Knowing the most common methods identity thieves use could save your financial and medical health.
Paying with a credit card, updating friends on social networking sites and throwing out the trash are fairly common activities for most Americans these days. But however routine or harmless these behaviors might seem, they could potentially cost you your identity.
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), a federal consumer protection agency, identity theft affects 9 million Americans each year.
The FTC website says, "Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personally identifying information, like your name, Social Security number, or credit card number, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes."
If your identity is stolen, your credit rating, finances and even your medical health could be at risk.
Identity theft is very difficult to detect. However, there are things you can do to protect yourself.
As is often the case, the best defense is sometimes a good offense.
Knowing the most common methods thieves use to steal identities is a good way to fight back. So this week in Financially Fit, we'll cover five of the top tricks of identity thieves.
Related Video:
http://financiallyfit.yahoo.com/finance/article-110843-6814-3-top-5-tricks-of-identity-thieves?ywaad=ad0035&nc
Paying with a credit card, updating friends on social networking sites and throwing out the trash are fairly common activities for most Americans these days. But however routine or harmless these behaviors might seem, they could potentially cost you your identity.
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), a federal consumer protection agency, identity theft affects 9 million Americans each year.
The FTC website says, "Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personally identifying information, like your name, Social Security number, or credit card number, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes."
If your identity is stolen, your credit rating, finances and even your medical health could be at risk.
Identity theft is very difficult to detect. However, there are things you can do to protect yourself.
As is often the case, the best defense is sometimes a good offense.
Knowing the most common methods thieves use to steal identities is a good way to fight back. So this week in Financially Fit, we'll cover five of the top tricks of identity thieves.
Related Video:
http://financiallyfit.yahoo.com/finance/article-110843-6814-3-top-5-tricks-of-identity-thieves?ywaad=ad0035&nc