The Federal Trade Commission Reveals Identity Thieves Victimize Millions Of People.

(Newswire.net — December 13, 2016) Tallahassee, FL — Identity theft is one of the easiest-to-do and fastest growing crimes nowadays. This is due to the wide availability of technological advancements that fraudsters use to commit their crime.

The Federal Trade Commission reveals identity thieves victimize 9 million Americans per year. Individuals who have been victimized by crooks are usually entitled to free credit monitoring. It is imperative that they check their financial statements on a regular basis to be aware of any unfamiliar activity or trnsactions.

According to experts, individuals who find some unfamiliar transactions in their financial statements should report it immediately. Those who are highly concerned about being victimized by thieves may consider freezing their credit report.

Identity theft takes place when the personal information of the consumer is obtained by thieves for the sole purpose of committing fraud or other crimes. Personal information include Social Security number and credit card data.

Credit card theft takes place when the card is used to make purchases, open accounts, or take loans in the name of the holder. When this happens, victims are advised to have their credit restored and clear their name. Unfortunately, this can take months or even years to accomplish.

There are many ways to increase protection against thieves, and one is to guard online information. When shopping or banking online, make sure that the logins and passwords are cleared. It is similarly important to be vigilant against phishing.

It is best that consumers monitor their credit card and bank statements on a regular basis. They should also verify their mailing address with financial institutions as well as the post office.

Today, it is important to learn exactly how fraudsters commit their crime. There are credit card readers widely available nowadays that are used by criminals. These devices can also be purchased online for just around $50.

These card skimming devices are designed to read credit card information through the signals established between the card and the device. Even if the credit card is inside the wallet and is a few feet away from the device, information can still be stolen.

Fraudsters who use credit card skimming devices usually commit their crime in crowded areas such as subways and airports. These places are often filled with people who are too busy or too much in a hurry to be vigilant about their belongings or other people. 

The good news is that there is a set of RFID blocking sleeves available to prevent card skimming devices from stealing information. These sleeves can be purchased at amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/rfid-passport-sleeve-protector/dp/B0150T0AI2).