Wouldn’t you freak out if you checked your bank account and saw a $0 balance? Identity theft isn’t too rare of an occurrence these days, yet we often fall into the trap of thinking that it’ll always happen to “someone else”. Unfortunately, we are all somebody else’s “someone else”, which means identity theft can happen to you.
Your identity can be stolen in numerous ways. If you are not among ZoneAlarm’s nearly 100 million users worldwide, cyber criminals can really steal your credit card numbers when you shop online. They can also steal your identity through hacks, viruses, and malware. They can even manipulate you into giving up your personal data without you even knowing that you’re doing it.
Identity theft is like some illnesses if you catch it early enough then you can mitigate most of the damage, but if you ignore the warning signs until it’s too late then your life just might be ruined. Don’t let it happen to you.
Unlike with other crimes, it’s entirely possible for you to be a victim of identity theft and not even know it. If someone breaks into your home or car, you’ll likely spot evidence of the crime right away — broken glass, perhaps, or missing property. Identity thieves commit a different type of crime that can go unnoticed until long after you’re a victim. And the time and effort to fix the damage can be significant.
Identity theft affects millions of people each year. ZoneAlarm Extreme Security is the most comprehensive multilayered security suite on the market that stops the toughest viruses, spyware and hackers. It is the ultimate solution for internet security and firewall protection, ensuring a 100% virus-free PC and protection against phishing attacks and identity theft.
Prevention is definitely they key here. Because once identity thieves have your personal information, they can drain your bank account, run up charges on your credit cards, open new utility accounts, or get medical treatment on your health insurance. An identity thief can file a tax refund in your name and get your refund. In some extreme cases, a thief might even give your name to the police during an arrest.
Check out below some warning signs of identity theft. They don’t all point directly to identity theft, but each is an indicator that something could be — or is — amiss, and you should take note or action if one rings a bell for you.
– Your bank account shows strange withdrawals.
– Bills or other mails just don’t come.
– Your checks get refused at stores.
– Your credit statement brinfs unfamiliar accounts or charges.
– You get billed by medical providers for services you have never used nor heard of.
– 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 Federal Trade Commission (FTC) website was partly a source for this article. As the United States consumer protection agency, the FTC works to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace.
