The reality is, identity theft occurs to millions of people each year. Some people think there’s nothing that can be done about it, but that’s not the case. At Jarosch Insurance, we are here to help you prevent it from occurring.
What Exactly Is Identity Theft?
ID theft occurs when someone without the legal right to do so uses your name and personal information such as your address, Social Security number, and other data to obtain or use credit. They may also use your personal information to file claims or otherwise gain access to some type of financial benefit.
Who Is Using Your ID?
Private information is quite often bought and sold on the dark web. What’s that? It occurs when would-be thieves are able to gather your personal data by purchasing records from companies or others who you legitimately provided that information to. For example, perhaps you make a purchase at Target a few years ago. Did you know that millions of identifications were stolen by a third party, exposing each of these individuals to high-risk ID theft?
The problem is, large companies, utilities, and even credit monitoring companies have become locations where this type of personal data is gathered and sold to those who wish to use it against you. Your information is simply not safe.
How Can You Prevent ID Theft?
It’s possible to prevent ID theft or minimize the risk of it in several ways. Here are a few steps.
- Avoid providing your information to anyone or any company that you are not sure about, such as strange e-commerce websites or unsecured websites.
- Never provide your Social Security number to people unless it is necessary for opening an account.
- Never confirm your personal information over the phone or through email unless you call the company yourself to do so.
- Sign up for credit monitoring services. Some services can help to find and remove your personal information from the dark web.
- Freeze your credit reports through TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian, making it impossible for new accounts to be created.
It’s always important to be vigilant. Keep your personal information, such as your Social Security Card and driver’s license, protected. You also want to ensure you are shredding your personal documents instead of tossing them in the trash.
How Can ID Theft Insurance Help You?
The bottom line is that even if you do everything else, someone can still steal your personal information. Identity theft insurance can help to cover any losses you have if this should occur. It provides coverage based on the cost to recover your ID and to clear your name of liabilities others created without your permission.
There’s no fool-proof method for avoiding identity theft. Yet, with this type of insurance policy in hand, you get the financial support you need actually to restore your name after such an event happens. With millions of IDs being stolen in these transactions each day, you need to be aggressive.
How Do You Get ID Theft Insurance?
It’s important to know if it’s right for you. Jarosch Insurance can give you the help you need. When you call us, we’ll discuss the options available to you for avoiding ID theft and discuss insurance policies that fit your needs. The key is not to wait until something happens to get help.