Identity theft is not the same as someone stealing your credit card, ATM or debit card to make unauthorized purchases. Identity theft is a criminal event that occurs when one person takes personal information from another and uses it to open new credit accounts, purchase vehicles, apply for loans, credit cards or social benefits, establish services with utility companies or rent dwellings all in the victim's name without his or her knowledge.
Sensitive personal information such as Social Security numbers, birth certificates, driver's licenses, credit card information and financial account numbers can be obtained easily by a thief to open these new accounts.
How do I protect myself from identity theft?
You may add this endorsement to your homeowners policy for less than $50.
The endorsement may include the following:
- lost wages or actual costs for supervision of children, elderly or infirm relatives or dependents of an insured during time reasonably and necessarily taken away from such supervision
- re-filing applications for loans, grants or other credit instruments
- certain legal fees;
- miscellaneous costs that directly arise from identity theft
- notarizing affidavits or other similar documents;
- unlimited ordering of credit reports
- postage, phone, and shipping fees related to identity theft and
- mental health counseling for 12 months after the first discovery of the identity theft