If someone steals your identity, he can get your tax refund and have it mailed to his house. Really. He can get into your bank accounts and siphon out money. He can use your credit card account numbers and run up a big bill. He can mess with your credit score. And his stealing, putting your name on bill and then a collection agency’s call list, can keep you from getting more credit or even a job.
(Now for the giggle part of the Hot Financial take on this issue.
No, identity thieves never steal your wrinkles, gray hair, love handles, nor muffin tops. Nope. They want your money. And if they masquerade as you, using your account numbers, they can get some moolah. Why mug you in a dark alley? It is so much less fuss and bother for an identity thief to just input your information into a computer, pretend he is you, and take money out of your accounts.
These identity theft efforts are even harder to catch than those old emails from so-called “Nigerian princes.”)
Note to readers: this indented section is designed to encourage you to LOL. So note the little smiley face here 🙂
Identity theft is serious. It could really put a crimp in your financial security and your future. So click on this government site FTC Identity Theft (you can trust it) to get some important and free copies.
There are 3 brochures on the basics :
- One on the basics called “What to do know and what to do.”
- One to help you protect your children.
- And the last one is for you, if you suspect their is a problem or you are “in crisis” it is called “What to do if your identity is, in fact, stolen.”
Take action. This is important. Hot Flash Financial Important!!
OH AND COMMENT BELOW.
DID YOU WRESTLE WITH AN IDENTITY THIEF? WHAT HAPPENED?
DO YOU SUSPECT YOU MAY BE VULNERABLE TO IDENTITY THEFT? TAKE ACTION.
(TO PROTECT YOURSELF–DO NOT TELL US YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, OR ANY ACCOUNT NUMBERS WHEN YOU RESPOND.)
