Protecting yourself from Identity Theft

Nationwide, identity theft is the #1 reported crime and for the 15th consecutive year topped the Federal Trade Commission's national ranking of consumer complaints. Two years ago, Pennsylvania ranked second in the number of confirmed identity thefts, in spite of being sixth in population

• Tax ID Theft is the most common followed by credit card fraud.
• ID Theft can occur at any age.
• In many cases, ID Theft isn't reported until long after it occurs, making it difficult to recoup losses.

"It takes the average victim an estimated $500 and 30 hours to resolve an identity theft crime."

 WAYS TO AVOID ID THEFT:

• Don't carry your Social Security Card in your wallet and only give out when absolutely necessary.
• Don't respond to unsolicited requests for personal information (your name, birthdate, social security number, or bank account number) by phone, mail, or online.
• Collect mail promptly. Ask the post office to put your mail on hold when you are away from home.
• Pay attention to your billing cycles. If bills or financial statements are late, contact the sender.
• Promptly compare receipts with account statements. Watch for unauthorized transactions.
• Shred receipts, account statements and expired cards to prevent "dumpster divers" from
  getting your personal information.
• Install firewalls and virus-detection software on your home computer.
• Don't open suspicious emails.
• Create complex computer passwords that identity thieves cannot guess easily.

PROTECT YOURSELF BEFORE IT HAPPENS

"It takes the average victim an estimated $500 and 30 hours to resolve an identity theft crime," according to the FTC. To help address growing concerns, Your Health Insurance Shop now offers an Identity Protection Service.

For less than $10 per month, members are sent a fraud alert email if suspicious activity is detected. More than just monitoring, members have access to 24/7 proactive education, guidance, and fraud resolution support from experienced fraud specialists who will help every step of the way. This program provides personalized services to help members manage their identities throughout life including assistance with a lost wallet, stolen documents, social media privacy settings, and consumer education through daily blogs, newsletters, and tips.  

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