I had a space at a bazaar on Saturday and was shocked at
how many people who stopped by my table told me they do not need ID Theft
Protection! (One of the products I sell
is LifeLock™ Identity Theft Protection.)
Some people had poor credit, and they said, “They can have my ID.” Others had no credit cards, so they believed
they were safe from ID Theft.
Do they not read or listen to the news? A report released by Javelin Strategy &
Research revealed that identity fraud increased by 13% in 2011. Over 11 MILLION adults became victims in the
United States alone.
This same report found revealed that those who use social
media and mobile devices are at higher risk than those who do not and had
higher incidents of ID fraud. (The report provides no proof of direct
causation.) And, 7% of smart phone users were victims of identity fraud. Although
we’ve been warned repeatedly, we are placing too much personal information online.
You need not own a credit card to have your ID
stolen. A thief can use your personal
information and get a credit card in your name.
You may think you are safe, thinking without your social security
number, it is not possible. You would be wrong!
Your social security number and all the personal data a thief needs is already
in various databases that may be breached at any time. Unfortunately, this is
not uncommon.
Lost or stolen wallets, checkbooks or credit card
accounts, corrupt businesses or employees and breaches of consumer data are other
ways thieves “become you.”
I recently spoke with a woman who was an ID Theft victim
in the mid-1990’s. She is still – today -
receiving bills and phone calls from creditors demanding payment for accounts
she never opened.
Possibly the worst identity theft, is stolen health
records. Without too much difficulty, a thief can acquire your health insurance
card number, go to a hospital and have surgery – say having their appendix removed. Years later, you get appendicitis. Since your medical records say you have no
appendix, they don’t consider appendicitis, possibly endangering your life. Health-related ID theft is one of the newest
and a common form of fraud.
Please, no matter whom you are, where you live, whether
or not you have credit cards, sign up for Identity Theft Protection now, today,
before you forget!
LifeLock™ has a million dollar guarantee if you become a
victim due to their error, and it is rated among the best ID theft protection
programs available. When you purchase LifeLock™
directly from them, you’ll pay $10 per month per person. With Xpress Healthcare’s Lifestyle Select
program for only $19.95 per month per FAMILY, you’ll get LifeLock™ for your
entire immediate family, PLUS you’ll receive discounted roadside assistance, reduced
pet care costs and legal services and more.
Feel free to go to http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings
to join Lifestyle Select. Even if you
select another ID theft protection program, register today!
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