Identity Theft Coverage

Unfortunately, in today’s society more and more people are victims of identity theft. They may discover that someone used their identity to finance a car or obtain a mortgage; do you have protection if this happens to you? There are companies that will monitor your credit and assist you if an identity theft occurs.

If you currently do not have a company monitoring your credit, I would suggest you consider adding “Identity Theft” coverage to your homeowners policy. It can cost as little as $20 for the year and provide up to $25,000 of Coverage. Identity theft insurance provides reimbursement to crime victims for the cost of restoring their identity and repairing credit reports. It generally covers expenses such as phone bills, lost wages, notary and certified mailing costs, and sometimes attorney fees (with the prior consent of the insurer).

Tips for Avoiding Identity Theft:

• Keep the amount of personal information in your purse or wallet to the bare minimum. Avoid carrying additional credit cards, your social security card or passport unless absolutely necessary.
• Do not give out personal information. Whether on the phone, through the mail or over the Internet, don’t give out any personal information unless you have initiated the contact or are sure you know who you are dealing with and that they have a secure line.
• Guard your credit card when making purchases. Shield your hand when using ATM machines or making long distance phone calls with phone cards.
• Don’t fall prey to “shoulder surfers” who may be nearby.
• Always take credit card or ATM receipts.
• Be aware of phishing and pharming scams. In these scams, criminals use fake emails and websites to impersonate legitimate organizations. Use caution when opening emails and instant messages from sources that are not familiar to you and never give out personal, financial or password related information via email.
• Place passwords on your credit cards & bank accounts. Avoid using easily available information like your mother’s maiden name or your birth date, or a series of consecutive numbers.
• Shred any documents containing personal information such as credit card numbers, bank statements, charge receipts or credit card applications, before throwing them out.

Trust Mitros Insurance to handle your insurance needs. If you ever have a question or would like to review your coverages, please don’t hesitate to CONTACT US. We are always available to help you understand your policy and make sure you have the proper coverage in place!