Franke Insurance Services: Identity Theft: How Insurance Can Help You Recover
Identity theft is a growing problem, with millions of people affected each year. It can be a devastating experience, both emotionally and financially. If you have been a victim of identity theft, you may be wondering what you can do to recover.
One important step is to contact your insurance company. Many insurance companies offer identity theft protection as part of their coverage. This coverage can help you with the costs of recovering from identity theft, such as:
* Credit monitoring: This service will alert you to any changes in your credit report, so you can catch fraudulent activity early.
* Fraud resolution: This service can help you dispute fraudulent charges and restore your credit.
* Lost wages: If you have to take time off work to deal with identity theft, your insurance policy may cover your lost wages.
* Legal expenses: If you need to hire a lawyer to help you resolve your identity theft case, your insurance policy may cover some or all of the legal expenses.
Franke Insurance Services: Steps to Recover from Identity Theft
In addition to contacting your insurance company, there are a number of steps you can take to recover from identity theft:
* Contact the credit reporting agencies: You need to contact the three major credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) and report the identity theft. They will place a fraud alert on your credit report, which will make it more difficult for identity thieves to open new accounts in your name.
* Close any accounts that have been tampered with: If you find that someone has opened a new account in your name, close it immediately. You should also change your passwords for any accounts that have been compromised.
* File a police report: Filing a police report can help you document the identity theft and make it easier to dispute fraudulent charges.
* Contact the companies where the fraud occurred: You need to contact the companies where the fraud occurred and report the identity theft. They will investigate the fraud and take steps to resolve it.
Franke Insurance Services: How to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft
There are a number of things you can do to protect yourself from identity theft, including:
* Be careful about what information you share online: Don’t share your personal information, such as your Social Security number or credit card number, online unless you are sure the website is secure.
* Use strong passwords and don’t use the same password for multiple accounts: Strong passwords are at least 8 characters long and include a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
* Shred any documents that contain your personal information: Don’t just throw away documents that contain your personal information, such as bank statements or credit card receipts. Shred them instead.
* Be careful about opening email attachments: Don’t open email attachments from people you don’t know or from companies you don’t do business with. These attachments could contain malware that can steal your personal information.
* Check your credit report regularly: You can get a free copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies once a year. Check your credit report for any errors or suspicious activity.
Franke Insurance Services: Conclusion
Identity theft can be a devastating experience, but you don’t have to go through it alone. If you have been a victim of identity theft, contact Franke Insurance Services. We can help you understand your insurance coverage and get the help you need to recover.