On May 13, 2022
By paralegal
Categories: Causes and Inspiration, Legal Documents, Power of Attorney

What to Do to Prevent Identity Theft

What is Personal Information?

If you have been the victim identity theft, then you probably don’t need to read this. However, here is a quick reminder for all of us who may be too relaxed when it comes to personal identifiable information. Also known as personally-identifiable information (PII) and personal data. Broadly, the term refers to information that can be used to identify, locate, or contact an individual, alone or when combined with other personal or identifying information.

Documents Contain Personal Information:

Old Tax Returns
Other tax documents, like property tax receipts
Credit card statements
Bank statements
Utility bills
Checks
Investment and retirement statement
Pay stubs
Insurance papers

What is Identity Theft?

Identity theft is act that occurs when someone uses another person’s personal identifying information, like their name, identifying number, or credit card number, without their permission, to commit fraud or other crimes.

Don’t Forget to Shred!

All documents about should be shredded. Shredding the documents that contain personal identification is crucial defense against identity theft.

Clues That Someone Has Stolen Your Information

You see withdrawals from your bank account that you can’t explain.
You don’t get your bills or other mail.
Merchants refuse your checks.
Debt collectors call you about debts that aren’t yours.
You find unfamiliar accounts or charges on your credit report.
Medical providers bill you for services you didn’t use.
Your health plan rejects your legitimate medical claim because the records show you’ve reached your benefits limit.
A health plan won’t cover you because your medical records show a condition you don’t have.
The IRS notifies you that more than one tax return was filed in your name, or that you have income from an employer you don’t work for.
You get notice that your information was compromised by a data breach at a company where you do business or have an account.

If your wallet, Social Security number, or other personal information is lost or stolen, there are steps you can take to help protect yourself from identity theft.