Most people don’t realize how serious and widespread the crime of Identity Theft is and how much damage and trouble it can cause should you become a victim of it. Let’s take a look at some facts and figures:

• According to the National Criminal Justice Reference Service 3 out of every 10 households in the United States are victimized by some sort of Identity Theft Crime.
   

• A report released by the Federal Trade Commission on January 25, 2006 detailing consumer complaints for the year 2005 revealed that once again complaints filed regarding Identity Theft topped the list. Of the 686,683 complaints filed with the FTC in 2005, 255,000 or 37% were from identity theft victims.
   

• A survey released by the Javelin Better Business Bureau revealed that during the year 2005 there were approximately 9.3 million adult victims of Identity Theft in the U. S. and the total amount taken by Identity Theft Fraud was $54.4 billion; an average of $5,885.00 per fraud victim. The Survey also revealed that on average each victim had to spend more than 40 hours to resolve the problem.

The bad news is that identity theft is the most common crime committed today against consumers and the chance that you will be victimized by it is significant. The good news is that there are some simple steps you can take that will greatly reduce your chances of being part of the more than ten million projected victims of Identity Theft this year.

How vulnerable are you to identity theft?
My quiz (below) will help you determine just how susceptible you are to becoming a victim of this crime. The questions ask about how you handle sensitive documents and how you protect your personal information. They require a “yes” or a “no” answer with every “no” answer providing a greater opportunity for Identity Thieves to obtain the information they need to steal in your name. Thus, the more “no” answers the greater the likelihood that you will become a victim of this widespread crime.

Download the Quiz and answer the questions
The next step is to take the quiz. To do this, download this page and fill in a “yes” or a “no” answer to each question. When you complete the questionnaire add up your “yes” and “no” answers and rate your vulnerability to Identity Theft by using the guidance provided.

1. _____ Do you use a crosscut shredder to destroy personal papers, expired credit cards and licenses, pre approved credit offers and preprinted checks that you put in the trash?
    

2. _____ If your answer to #1 is no, do you cut up and/or black out personal information on these documents?
    

3. _____ Do you have your name deleted from credit card and other solicitation lists? (You can do this by calling 1-888-5-optout or 1-888-567-8688.)
    

4. _____ Do you always take credit card receipts and destroy or safeguard them?
    

5. _____ Do you keep your credit cards to a minimum and only maintain cards you use?
    

6.  _____ Do you carefully review your monthly bank and credit card statements?
    

7. _____ Do you avoid providing your Social Security Number whenever possible?
    

8. _____ Do you use a locked mailbox? If not is mail quickly removed from it?
    

9. _____ Do you only deposit mail into a secure mailbox?
    

10.  _____ Are you very selective as to whom you provide personal information?
     

11.  _____ Do you limit the information you disclose and only disclose what you must?
     

12. _____ Do you provide personal information without being totally clear and at ease with why the information is needed?
     

13. _____ Do you sign all your credit and charge cards requiring a signature?
     

14. _____ Do you keep billing information up to date with all creditors?
     

15. _____ Do you ask why if a creditor changes your billing cycle?
     

16. _____ Do you use random characters in passwords and PIN’s?
     

17. _____ Do you avoid carrying your Social Security Card or any other document with your SS # on it in your purse or wallet?
     

18. _____ Are your personal checks printed only with your name, a PO Box address and without your SS # or your phone #?
     

19. _____ Do you check to be sure that no one is listening or watching when you provide personal information?
     

20. _____ Do you store all credit cards and documents with sensitive information in a locked or otherwise safe place?
     

21. _____ Do you review your credit reports from all three major Credit Reporting Agencies at least once a year?
     

22. _____ If you use the internet are you protected by Spy-Ware and Anti Virus Software and do you keep it up to date?
     

23. _____ If you shop on line do you use one credit card exclusively so you can easily keep track of your purchases?
     

24. _____ If you shop on line do you look for the “closed lock” icon at the bottom of the page to insure that vendors use encryption software to secure your information?
     

25. _____ If you shop on line do you refuse to allow vendors to store your credit card information and refuse to allow them to “remember” your password?
     

26. _____ Do you insure that your documents, your computer or anything containing personal information is never left exposed and unattended?
     

27. _____ Do you keep a photo copy of all credit cards, identification cards and other important documents in a safe place?

Rate your Identity Theft Vulnerability

Though answering “yes” to all these questions doesn’t guarantee you will avoid becoming a victim of this crime it does greatly reduce the probability. As it now stands (based on statistics given above) you or someone in your household has a 30% (3 in 10) chance of becoming an Identity Theft Victim. If your household’s annual income is greater than $75,000 or if it’s headed by a person under the age of 24 your chances are even higher.

Interpreting your scores

Let’s assume that the average household (with 30% chance of being victimized) will answer “no” to about half the questions (the mean). If you answer “no” to less than half or let’s say 7 or 8 questions your odds may drop considerably possibly to 20% or even 10%. And, on the other hand, if you answer no to 20 or 21 questions, your odds of being victimized may go up as high as 40% or even 50%.

Where do you go from here?

Now that your vulnerability to Identity Theft has been exposed you can immediately take steps to reduce the odds of becoming a victim of this crime. Obviously, you must change as many of the “no” answers above to “yes”. It’s not really that difficult. And, for the most part it simply requires a consciousness of what you must do to protect your privacy and a change of attitude about doing it.

In addition, it will not require you to spend a lot of money as it would to protect against burglary or home invasion (with an alarm system) or fire (with a sprinkler system). The only costs would involve: (1) purchasing a Shredder (2) securing your Mail Box, (3) printing New Checks, (4) purchasing a small (fireproof) safe or lockbox and (5) purchasing Spy-Ware and Antivirus Software for your computer. Even if you had to purchase all of the above you could probably do it for not much more than $150.00. Not that much when you consider how much trouble and money it could save you.

This exercise is meant to be a wake-up-call to alert you to the fact that you have a considerable chance of being victimized by this very troublesome and costly crime. It gives you a means to judge just how vulnerable you are and a straight forward plan of action to significantly reduce that vulnerability.

More Free Information and Guidance

What we talked about above is all part of the purpose of this website which is to help you take control of your life and achieve financial health and independence. To explore this site further and take advantage of the wealth of Free Information it provides as well as the Publications and Consultation Services it offers, please select any of the links below:

First click here to check out My Free Tips including discussions about:

• Commitments you must make to effectively deal with debt.
   

• What you should know about debt and what can happen if you don’t pay.
   

• What you should know about your rights regarding debt and credit reporting.
   

• Tips for dealing with collection agencies and attorneys.
   

• Why Bankruptcy should be your last resort and information about the New Bankruptcy Law.
   

• The dangers of using debt consolidation companies.
   

• Why it’s often a big mistake to use home equity loans to pay off credit cards.
   

• What you should know about your credit, credit reporting and credit repair.
   

• Dangerous, potentially harmful misconceptions people have about debt and credit.
   

• And much more.

Next check out the Consultation Services and Publications I offer by clicking on any of the links below:

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Remember - achieving Financial Health and Independence does not have to be a fantasy or a daydream. I assure you that you can make it happen and probably a lot faster than you think. But, you have to “walk the walk” as they say; you have to take charge. Only you can make it happen and I can help you do it.

So if you’re committed to creating a life characterized by financial sanity and financial independence you are in the right place. Normondebt.com is the most comprehensive one stop resource that you will find offering everything you need to get this job done.

As our late great president Harry S. Truman once said:

“The Buck Stops Here!”

It’s up to you gals and guys!
Good luck and please let me know how it turns out.

Thank you
Norm

P. S. – to learn more click on:

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