Identity Theft Expert Witness & ID Theft Prevention Part 1

Identity theft expert witnesses may opine on the fraudulent use of personal information to open new credit accounts, take out loans in the victim’s name, stealing money from financial accounts, and more. Here Steven Domenikos, CEO of IdentityTruth, writes on Top 10 Tips for ID Theft Prevention in 2010:

IdentityTruth’s statistics point to a continual year-to-year increase in identity theft-related crimes, indicating that as criminals get more savvy, identity theft becomes easier to perpetrate. The best bet is for consumers to remain informed on how different life events – from shopping and traveling to starting college and getting married – increase their risk for ID theft.

“ID theft is about much more than simple credit card fraud. What many consumers may not realize is that at different points in one’s life, we are all made more vulnerable to identity theft related crime,” said Steven Domenikos, CEO of IdentityTruth. “Taking some simple steps now and being extra-vigilant can help people from becoming victims of identity theft.”

Steven shares his list of “Top 10 Tips for 2010” to help consumers be more aware of their ID theft risk this year:

* When traveling: Know where your credit cards/debit cards are at all times – it’s easy to get distracted when on vacation and out of your usual routine! Double-check credit card receipts when traveling out of the country, as some receipts still print out the cardholder’s full name and credit card number. If you’re going to throw receipts in the trash, be sure to shred them.

* When shopping: Be careful when using ATMs: only use ATMs with monitoring cameras, such as those in bank lobbies. Avoid kiosk ATMs, those freestanding units often do not have cameras and are statistically more likely to be infected by skimmers (electronic devices that allow thieves to record account and PIN numbers). “Shoulder Surfing” can also be a problem at crowded stores, so don’t be afraid to question someone that is standing too close. When making purchases online, look for a familiar logo that indicates that the site is deemed secure.

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