Identity Protection - Do I Really Need It?
They Call It PROACTIVE IDENTITY PROTECTION
Its new, its being advertised all over and reports show that Proactive Identity Protection is a PROVEN SYSTEM. The System protects your money, credit and good name and also stops crooks immediately
…leading to their arrests in some cases.
Here's The True Story Of How this "PROVEN SYSTEM" Works, And The Best Way To Put It To Work For YOU.
Dear Friend,
You are about to learn the facts about identity theft and how you can protect yourself.
And listen, this is the truth about identity theft protection …A truth that few people tell, but I am going to share this truth with you because an informed decision is the right decision for You to make.
2007 Facts:
10 Million Identity Theft Victims
120 Million Private Records Exposed
Well, 2007 was a record year for identity theft victims in the US. It is estimated there were 10 million victims who had their normal lives altered by this painful crime.
An even scarier fact is that approximately 120 Million personal and private records were exposed to criminals.
But before we go further, we need to set the record straight.
We're only at the beginning of this article and you've already seen some really big scary numbers. And if I were you, I'd be wondering …
Is this just a Bunch of Media Hype?
And your absolutely right to ask that question.
You have been hearing a lot about identity theft from the media recently, and a few years ago, I too was wondering, Is it really as bad as they say? Do I really need Identity Protection? I was in the same position as you, educating myself, exploring my options, asking whether I should protect my children or just my wife and I. In other words I know how you feel.
Is it media hype? The answer is not a simple yes or no. You see 2007 was a record year and a large portion of the records that were exposed were credit card numbers and they were mostly compromised by one company TJX, in one incident. You probably heard about this.
Now I don't want to say that credit card numbers in the hands of criminals is not that big a deal. I certainly wouldn't want them to have my number.
But, my security background has taught me that identity thieves can only get so far with this piece of information, and it usually is just some credit card charges that eventually get refunded to you by your card company after some leg work.
Whats really Scary
Whats really scary is when a thief gets a hold of your Social Security number, or bank account numbers, or starts combining information on you from multiple sources. This is when you are at great risk. The SSN alone is considered by thieves to be the Golden Key to the Palace.
Without TJX there were 30 Million other records that were exposed, yeah thats right - 30 Million other private records in one year, and the majority of these included Social Security Numbers.
Governments, Universities, Fortune 500 companies are all losing our private information at alarming rates.
Criminals have learned that identity theft can be prosperous and that the risks of getting caught are low. They are stealing laptops and hard drives, hacking computers and doing anything they can to get your personal information because they know how valuable it is on the black market.
I don't mean to scare you, I am just trying to inform you that your information is likely already out there. The Washington Post just did a study and found that personal information including the SSN of Colin Powell and Troy Aikmen were in easily accessible public government records on the internet. They also reference another website where an identity theft activist in Virginia provides the links to government websites that have the SSN's of numerous congressman, judges, and district attorneys posted for all to see. Why are their SSN's posted online, because they bought a house - its on the land deed. Now they probably have protection but if their information is public knowledge on the internet then yours and mine probably is too.
Need Proof: Ask residents of Connecticut, Ohio, Wisconsin or the City of Nashville. Numerous Universities, Fortune 500 companies, Large Retailers, Hospitals, Financial Companies, Peace Officers in Texas, National Defence Contractors, Our Veterans … the list goes on, well over 300 data breaches in three years, 217 Million Private American Records that included SSN's and/or Financial Information …and the real problem is that this is going to continue.
I have made this point in other articles and I cannot stress enough how true it is - Your private information is not safe, never will be, and there is a good chance that it has already been compromised.
STOP: Don't Panic - You Can Protect Yourself
There are many ways you can protect yourself from identity theft. The following being the most important.
- Shred all personal information using a cross cut shredder.
- Place Fraud Alerts on your credit account and renew them every 90 days
- Monitor your credit report for any unauthorized changes at all 3 bureaus
- Remove yourself from pre-authorized credit lists
- Avoid sending or receiving personally identifying information in the mail such as checks and bank statements.
- Never give out your SSN, or any information for that matter, unless necessary
- Do not carry your SSN, Passport (unless out of county), Birth Certificate, PINs, or Checks in your wallet or purse
- Be aware of Phishing Attempts, and telemarketing phone calls that request private information.
- Use security software for your computer and only shop at reputable businesses.
- Purchase identity theft insurance
The Truth About Identity Protection
Now most people wont tell you this but all of the above can be done for free, if you have a shredder that is. If you don't, please get one it is a necessary item in this day and age.
If you are willing to take the time and effort to place fraud alerts every 90 days, order and review your free credit report at least once a year, and remove yourself from pre-authorized credit lists then you are well on your way to protecting yourself. Just keep my other points in mind as well, as they are all essential steps to protecting yourself from identity theft. Now all you need to do is purchase identity theft insurance from your insurance carrier to truly protect yourself. Or you can choose to purchase an Identity Theft Protection Plan from one of the leading providers (Debix, LifeLock or TrustedId.) which will save you the legwork and the need for additional identity theft insurance since each company includes this in their protection plans.
More Truth - Nothing is Full Proof!
What most people don't tell you is that there is no full proof security.
Credit monitoring doesn't even really protect you at all, it just does damage control by alerting you to the fact that someone has taken out credit in your name. Not to mention it's a contradictory service for companies that previously made all their money selling your information. Credit monitoring doesn't give you anywhere near the coverage of Proactive Identity Protection Plans and it is more expensive. Each bureau also charges extra to monitor the other 2 bureaus which of course is necessary to protect yourself. Problems may also arise with your existing and future credit opportunities and these problems would be avoided with a Proactive Identity Protection Plan.
Fraud alerts though proven to be very effective only work when the creditor actually calls the number in your file. They are required to do this so you can approve or disapprove the loan request. Now, your bank will call but is Joe's Used Car Lot always going to call you. NO! There are a lot of unethical business owners and organized crime has tried to legitimize themselves by purchasing businesses. A Fraud alert is not full proof though it is the best identity protection available. This is why identity insurance is extremely important in a full protection plan.
You see, the one thing everybody needs to have in place is identity insurance. If you are like me you have worked far too hard and long to achieve your financial position and to establish your good name for some low life to step in and ruin your success.
Identity insurance is not only necessary but something you should consider purchasing immediately because once one identity thief low life makes any attempt at taking over your finances no insurance company will touch you. Thats right, they don't tell you that either. They will insure you if your personal data has been compromised but once a thief initiates an attack on You their policies will not cover you for that case.
What are my options
Everyone has options, and I will present your options so you can make an informed decision for you and your family.
- Do the protection part yourself and look for identity insurance elsewhere. This works if your the type who can set a schedule and stick to it without missing crucial deadlines. The problem is that all your extra work does not save you any money because the insurance will cost you the same as the full identity protection plans available through LifeLock, TrustedId or Debix.
- Use a Proactive Identity Protection Plan that renews your fraud alerts and includes identity insurance and/or guarantees of 1 million dollars. The best protection for the best price means this is the right choice for most people. Are they worth it? Absolutely, think of all the services you currently have others perform and the prices they charge. Its a deal, and as I said before identity theft Insurance is a must have in todays world.
Who Provides the Best Identity Protection Plan
There is no simple answer to this question. It depends on your wants and needs and how much value you place on the differences each company has. What I can tell you is that we at IdentityTheftLabs.com have researched and tested the three companies we now recommend.
In fact, we were recommending Debix before they signed big contracts to protect the residents of Ohio, Connecticut and the City of Nashville. We were able to do this as we had done our due diligence on them.
All three companies Debix, LifeLock and TrustedID are well backed financially, and are the established leaders in identity theft protection. They are all among the fastest growing companies in America, and rightfully so. All three companies place and renew fraud alerts and back their identity protection plan with identity theft insurance and/or a service guarantee. They also remove you from pre-authorized credit offers, which have been known to be a source of identity theft, and from junk mail lists. They all provide experts to help you if you do become an identity theft victim. Lifelock will even do the work for you including recouping any financial loss, restoring your credit and clearing your good name.
LifeLock and TrustedID provide you with ID replacement in the event your wallet or purse is lost or stolen. TrustedID and Debix have an identity insurance policy that covers lost wages. Debix is the only company that can provide you with an audit trail in the event an unscrupulous company states they did call you for approval.
TrustedID and LifeLock have black market internet monitoring that protects your valuable information from being sold illegally. LifeLock is the only ISO security certified company. They also scan address databases to make sure identity thieves have not diverted your mail.
All three identity protection companies offer protection for children. This can be extremely valuable in cases of divorce, unstable family members, families with drug addicted relatives and even for college students who are exposed to new roommates. Child identity theft is actually one of the fastest growing segments.
The aforementioned points of difference between the identity protection plans should help you come to a decision as to which company you want protecting your money, time, peace of mind and family. You will continue to see new value added bonuses from all three companies as they compete to be your service provider and identity theft protection company.
Whether you choose an Identity Theft Protection Plan or not I implore you to shred documents, place and renew fraud alerts every 90 days, order and review your credit report yearly, opt out of pre-authorized credit offers and get identity insurance before it is too late. I hope after reading this that you recognize identity theft is a serious, painful, horrible crime. Protection costs little and can save not only your hard earned money but also countless hours of frustration, paperwork and emotionally draining red tape bureaucracy. Consider using an Identity Theft Protection Plan so you can protect yourself fully in one easy step.
For a handy chart on what each company offers use this link to compare LifeLock, Debix and TrustedID. If you made your decision or want to explore your options further you can access their websites with the links below and receive the best discounts available. There is no need to use a promotion code as that is automatically taken care of for you. After discounts Debix costs $24/ year, LifeLock $99/year, and Trusted Id $90/year. LifeLock and TrustedID also offer the first 30 days free. Thank You, and Stay Safe.
Protect yourself with LifeLock and Save $11 every year plus get 30 days Free!
Prottect yourself with TrustedId, Save 10% and get 30 Days Free
