What is identity theft?

Identity thieves love the holidays!

While it might be looking a lot like Thanksgiving or Christmas, the shopping frenzy associated with the holidays can be fraught with criminal activity. No matter how careful you are, you could open your credit card bill one day to discover hundreds or thousands of fradulent charges. No matter if you are shopping online, in Douglasville or in another state or country, you are at risk for identity theft.

What is identity theft?

Identity theft happens when someone uses your personal information without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes. According to a report filed by CNN based on research from Javelin Strategy & Research, another American becomes the victim of identity theft fraud every two seconds. Criminals can gain access to your private information and sell it or take your identity or financial information solely for purchases or other types of financial gain. As of the date of this post, there have been 287 known data breaches across the US, exposing over 7, 710, 430 records (IDTheftCenter.org). Banks, medical and healthcare practices, retail outlets (such as Target and Home Depot), small mom and pop stores…any business with which you transact could be a target, making YOU and your good name a target, too.

Over the next series of posts leading up to the holidays, we’ll be exploring how you avoid identity theft, how you can recognize if it happens to you, and what to do if you are victim. If you feel you are currently the victim of identity theft, contact our offices right away and get assistance.