Be smart and protect your identity 

Beware of Identity theft! Do you know that close friends and relatives commit maximum Identity thefts? The reason is simple! A free mobility in your vicinity and your carelessness tempt them to do this act.
Don't be surprised if you would come to know that mostly the culprits are your closer ones who steal a personal diary having details of your personal information or your purse having your paid bills and credit card. Simply you handed over your identity to them.

The survey conducted by Javelin Research and the Better Business Bureau has revealed shocking information. Out of 4000 consumers 500 were victims of identity theft.Just your name, Social Security number and birth date is sufficient for hackers. The shocking facts have been revealed by this survey carried out for Identity theft.

Reasons responsible for identity threat 

a) The main reason has been already discussed in this article that is due to stolen wallet. 29 percent incidents occur because of it.

b) 12.9 percent of identity theft has been observed during an in- store or telephone transaction.

c) Corrupt employees are responsible for identity theft in 9 percent cases.

d) Stolen mail for 8 percent.

 

e) Spyware on the computer for 5 percent.

f) Sifting through garbage for 2.6 percent.

g) Computer viruses are responsible for 2.2 percent incidents.

h) Phishing through Spam email, 1.7 percent.

 Survey statistics 

Be cautious! Don't be careless. Prevent your valuables from being stolen by near ones. The identity theft will cost you any thing around $15,607 on average, compared with the $9,243 on average stolen through mail theft, and $2,320 ripped off in online scams. This theft is planned so smartly that in 75 percent of the cases, no clue has been left.

Among all a new account fraud is the most difficult form of identity theft to detect. It occurs during a new credit card account is set up using the victim's personal information. It has been responsible for loss of million dollars. This fraud leads to a $12,646 hit per victim on an average, compared with $9,912 for existing non-credit-card accounts and $5,803 for existing credit-card accounts.

Bottom line is always be alert. Be smart and protect your Identity. Click here for more information on Securybanks Phishing Trojan and Credit Card Skimming.

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