Mischer News

According to an annual study conducted by the Javelin Strategy and Research Center, almost 10 million people a year are victims of identity theft. And, one everyday task is a potential culprit - shopping online. And, more and more people are distributing personal information through social media outlets such as Facebook or MySpace, and plugging it into digital devices they can easily lose.

Online scam artists often surf for a payday on the Internet via official-looking e-mails that appear to be from a large banking institution or by introducing themselves as offshore investors looking for a state side liaison to help disperse their funds. The messages encourage recipient to log on to the bank site to re-enter personal data and verify accounts. But the link goes to a fake, yet realistic-looking, site that gathers personal information for the scammers.

Take my advice: never respond to e-mails asking you to re-enter information. More importantly, most large banking institutions plainly state that they never ask for information via e-mail and to be skeptic of any correspondence requesting the information on their behalf.

When preparing to buy a home, your credit worthiness is your lifeline, so make sure it is solid and accurate by requesting a copy of your credit report from Experian, Equifax and TransUnion to confirm that the information being provided to your lenders is true and accurate. And, fix any discrepancies prior to applying for a loan.

If you’ve been the victim of identity theft, file a police report. Then, download and fill out a copy of the Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft Victims’ Complaint and Affidavit at Ftc.gov/bcp/edu/resources/forms/affidavit.pdf . You can send copies to your credit card companies and the credit bureaus to notify them that you are a victim of ID theft. Don’t forget to notify your homeowner insurance company too. Many insurance companies, including Nationwide and State Farm, now include identity theft protection plans and your agent can assist you with questions or fees you may have incurred!