Myth 1: “ I do not buy anything online or even do online banking, so I do not have to worry.”

Fact 1: Identity Theft (IDT) has very little to do with your own personal practices.  Look at it like this; since you have been at your current position, how much new data have you accumulated?  If you have ever given out your driver license, used a debit card at a store, or went to your doctor’s office, you’ve done the same as using a debit card number online.  These are all potential ways for your identity could be taken. . . YES, taken.

Myth 2: “That’s okay, I have protection from my bank or my credit card.”

Fact 2: Identity Theft is more than just a bank account and credit score. There are 5 major types of Identity theft
Financial – Loss of money via bank or credit card and only accounts for 18% of all identity theft  (Your Bank is protecting their interest as much as yours)

Driver’s License- that’s when someone uses your driver’s license number and may drive under the influence or commit other driving infraction and you end up with a suspended driver’s license – and / or increased insurance rates.

Social Security- This IS NOT FINANCIAL!  It’s when someone is working under your SSN out of state or in state for that matter and does not pay the tax bill. You are left with a back tax bill and the IRS only knows you by your SSN number. This can affect Public Assistance, Child support, Disability, etc.

Medical- Imagine someone changing your blood type, allergies, medicine you have been on, or worse, doing this to your children.  That is what medical identity theft is. Medical is the only deadly form of identity theft.  With the rising cost of health care, people with health insurance have come under attack by people who need your medical insurance card.  Yes, that’s right, your health insurance card is an unlimited debit card to make someone else well.

Criminal or Character- You may have guessed this one.  This is when people commit crimes in your name and tarnish it. Even worse, you may have to hire an attorney to prove in a court of law that you are you, and not the criminal they believe you to be.

Myth 3: “My IDT company has a guarantee that it will not happen to me.”

Fact 3: There are only two guarantees in life: taxes and death. Anyone who disagrees with this is selling something!  As a consumer, you must think logically about a company that claims it prevents something with as many variables as IDT.  Can anyone prevent humans from making mistakes, allowing your information to be accessed?  Or prevent criminal activity?  The easiest way to get massive amounts of data is by hacking and selling your information.  Remember, our identities are a commodity traded daily: either legally or illegally.

Remember this, when looking for an Identity theft product the Federal Trade Commission says you need 3 areas of coverage: Credit monitoring, Unlimited access to attorneys, and Complete Restoration of your Identity.  Anything less will shift the responsibility back to you, despite any guarantee.

For information on how you can protect your identity, please contact Kyle with Legal Benefits, Incorporated at (402) 405-0438 or kyle@LBIncorp.com.