Identity-It's More than What's in your Wallet

The first response of most people to this question is 'one'. After all, you are who you are and besides, how many identities do you really need? Well, when I researched this for myself, what I found was that I had five different sets of records out there. In effect we all have five identities that work for us.

When you think about Identity theft, what likely comes to mind is our financial records, such as bank accounts, credit cards and other things having to do with our credit score. These records are important, but there's much more to our identity than that. What about our medical identity which include our blood type and other vital information regarding our health history? What of criminal records and your good name in the community? How about social security records and tax information? There are records kept that are associated with your driving record as well that if they were lost or tampered with might, in some cases effect your ability to get and keep a job.

Although financial identity theft is one of many, its the one we most often think about.  Usually it consists of obtaining information in order to open new financial and credit accounts as well as unauthorized use of current accounts you might already have established.  The fall-out for such identity theft can cause many problems.  it can effect your ability to buy a house, how much you pay for a car, and even your employment in some cases.

Medical Identity theft is one of the fastest growing aspects of identity theft. An example of this kind of problem would be someone who, . . . say has been diagnosed with some serious condition. This person obtains your information and gets treatment under your name (identity). In the course of treatment the thief's vital information is recorded such as blood-type, past medical conditions, and family medical history as if it were your own.

This sort of situation can effect you in a number of ways. Imagine, yourself having been in an accident or having to deal with some other critical medical situation and being rushed to the hospital. You're unable to communicate with the nurses and doctors and because you are in a life threatening situation, they need to act. They pull your medical records and act based on that information they treat you. Are their treatments based on correct histories? If you need a transfusion do they have the correct blood type? Will they be able to diagnose the real issues and subsequent issues if there's the thief's information muddying the waters and confusing the issues? Nevermind the fact that you'd likely be held responsible for paying for the treatment that the identity thief has received.

This sort of Identity theft occurs when someone taps into Social Security your benefits or perhaps uses your SSN to obtain employment or other income opportunities. For example, if a thief, because they have some disability and may not be eligible for benefits themselves, applies for those benefits under your information. Then later on, when there ends up being benefits that you have a need for, your benefits may be held up or even initially denied. Another Example to consider would be to have a thief purchase a house under your social, and sell it off right away for a profit and then go on their merry way. Then, years down the road the IRS comes knocking on your door seeking the back taxes that were never paid on the profits made on the sale of that house.

This would be when an identity thief, in an encounter with law enforcement or in some other embarrassing or damaging situation, claims to be you.  An example of this might be if someone participating in a drug deal and gets arrested and then gives your identity when asked.  You would now have a criminal record.  Well, he manages to get out on bail, but then skips.  This only compounds your problems when the Police come looking for you.  This kind of situation could very easily put your job in danger and even other opportunities on hold.  It would be a difficult thing to explain to friends, neighbors and loved ones.

A thief of your drivers license identity would be one who finds themselves having been stripped of their own driver's license or perhaps in need of a back-up.  This form of Identity theft is is probably one of the most versatile as it's most likely use is to legitimize a false identity, whether it's presented to a police officer or an employer.  Someone who may not be a real safe driver would be able to preserve their own driving record only to damage yours.  For some victims that might cost them their livelihood.  Speaking of livelihood, if this sort of thief uses the license for gaining employment this would be put you liable for the taxes due for the thief's income earned here at this employer.

With the varieties of Identity theft that are out there, I'd like to pose the question, 'Which form of identity theft would have the greatest impact on you in your life?'  Whether it's Medical, Social Security or Financial, I hope you see how serious it can be.  Now that you've read through how do you feel?

What are you doing to protect yourself?  Shredding the deluge of credit card offers you get on almost a daily basis?  Not sharing your information with solicitors over the phone? Do you monitor or have a service monitor your Identity for changes?  Or are you just hoping that you'll be one of those that are never effected?  If you trying to actively protect yourself, good for you.  it's important for you to make those efforts.  Despite all your efforts to prevent it though, there's only so much you can do.  What if a hacker breaks into the website of a company that you do business with and gets credit information?  What if some computers are stolen from your old university and there is the personal information of students, staff and alumni?

Now, monitoring is a good first step, but it's not the answer.  Many monitering services once there's a hit that you indicate is Identity Theft, they'll send you a packet with 'do-it-yourself' forms and tips for getting it cleared up and that's where their involvement with you ends and where your problems begin.  It's up to you to do the foot-work, make the phone calls, and send the letters.  You're the one that's guilty until proven innocent.  Not a comfortable position for you to find yourself in.

What you need is a company that will rewind the clock and restore things as they were.  Out of all the companies that promise protection from identity theft that I've ever looked into or heard of there's only one that walks with you beyond the packet.  In fact, they don't even send a packet.  On your word they just take care of it.  They will investigate it and do all the footwork.  It's an amazing service that will work for you.  Check out the link to get a look at the company and the service it provides.