Originally published January 20 2006
Tech expert offers tips on how to protect yourself from identity theft
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
At the London Free Press, John Millar offers advice to consumers about how to avoid identity theft, which is not a risk limited to online transactions.
This year, more than 500,000 people in North America will give away their personal identities and it will cost each of them thousands in expenses and lost time to get their identities back.
Referred to as identity theft, knowingly or unknowingly, it is the individual who usually does something that allows the theft to be carried out.
Solutions to this growing problem will involve technology developments and changing personal practices.
The first step is to realize identity theft is getting to be a bigger problem.
Certainly, news of online exploits, such as phishing and pharming scams and announcements of breaches of computer system security involving losses of customer data, lead to heightened awareness of Internet-based risks of identity theft.
Usually, victims of identity theft only become aware when they receive a statement from their financial institution or credit card issuer indicating withdrawals or charges they know they did not make.
Fortunately, financial institutions and credit card companies support victims and will reverse negative transactions when provided the correct information.
Costs still remain in terms of fees, expenses and hundreds of hours of time it takes to communicate with financial institutions, deal with credit reporting agencies and obtain replacement documents.
Technology providers are developing offerings that will help reduce certain electronic methods of identity theft.
Increased online security, through improved standards for the yellow security padlock seen on web browsers, identifying the true owner of websites and including the physical address and colour coding symbols identifying potentially dangerous sites, will be available soon.
There are a number of actions everyone can and should consider taking to protect themselves.
- Have a lost/stolen identification notice placed on credit bureau files if you experience these problems.
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