Swift Reaction is the Key to Intruding on Identity Thieves

by Stacy Whelchel

After you receive an official letter or an email letting you know that your personal information has been breached, the worst is over, right?

Not necessarily so, according to this MSN story.

It depends on if the victim actually reads the letter and takes action to prevent recurrence. This doesn’t always happen because the correspondence is sometimes considered junk mail and discarded unopened, according to the report.

Researchers determined that about one in nine consumers receive a security breech notification letter each year. To make matters seemingly worse, these victims have a one in five chance of being duped again during the next year, states the survey by a research firm. Just think what can happen if the initial letter, or subsequent correspondence, are ignored.

Identity theft is a serious crime stopped by awareness before, during, and after the crime. If a security breech notification letter is received, it’s in your best interest to read all the information and call the source if there are questions about any details or recommendations. It might also be in your best interest to consult an attorney to protect your legal rights.

Time is crucial after an intrusion by an identity thief; don’t give them more chances to do the crime by ignoring all the corresponding warning signs.

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Stacy Whelchel is a Corporate Writer at Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. Pre-Paid Legal's signature products, including the Life Events Legal Plan and Identity Theft Shield, serve more than 1.5 million families in North America.