How to protect yourself against Identity theft.

Identity-Theft-On-The-WebHow Identity Theft Insurance Helps Pick Up the Pieces

If you have never had your identity stolen, consider yourself lucky. Identity theft happens to more than 9 million people each year according to the Federal Trade Commission. Worse yet, victims have to spend their own time, money and resources to clear their names and correct their credit histories and financial records. It’s a time-consuming process and can take years to fix.

Preventing Identity Theft

You can prevent identity theft by taking preventative measures such as being careful how you use your credit cards online. Don’t click on links in emails from unknown sources, and never buy from a strange site without first researching its reputation. Other ways to prevent identity theft include:

  • Using an off-site postal mailbox to send out your mail
  • Carrying your license and Social Security card separately
  • Tracking your credit history regularly with one of the three credit bureaus

Insuring Against Identity Theft

Although it cannot prevent identity theft, having insurance can help in case it happens to you. To combat the severe consequences related to identity theft, some companies now offer insurance at a low cost per year. It may not cover the monetary losses from someone stealing your credit card, but it will cover the cost and time spent when restoring your credit and reclaiming your identity.

Some insurance companies offer policies that include identity theft coverage while others provide stand-alone policies with limits up to $15,000. Identity theft coverage deals with expenses like:

  • Time off work
  • Attorney fees
  • Forensic Accounting fees
  • Investigative service fees
  • Paying high phone bills
  • The cost of sending certified mail

The Benefits of Identity Theft Insurance

If you have a homeowner’s insurance policy, you may already have coverage for identity theft. It’s important to review your terms before seeking a stand-alone policy from another company. Having identity theft insurance provides numerous benefits and helps you cancel and reopen accounts to get your credit report back in good standing with all three major credit agencies.

The Insurance Information Institute found that identity thieves stole more than $16 billion from almost 13 million Americans in 2014. It can happen to anyone, it can happen to you but identity theft insurance can help pay for many of the expenses incurred to reclaim your identity, credit rating and lost time dealing with the aftermath.

 

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