Lots of people think identity theft happens because people get careless online or on the phone. Even though these kinds of crimes have grown too common, identity-theft scams have been around longer than the internet. Some identity thieves may be international hackers or employees of an overseas call center, but others might even be local residents. Sadly, almost anybody can become a victim, and one of the reasons it’s difficult to protect yourself is that criminals keep coming up with new schemes. Can identity theft insurance help keep you safe?
If You’re Careful, Do You Need Identity Theft Insurance?
Of course, you’re wise to handle your sensitive information carefully. Make sure you know who you’re dealing with any time you’re asked for such private data as your drivers license, social security, or credit card number. Still, no matter how well you protect yourself, you can’t always be certain how other folks will handle your financial, personal, and other sensitive information. For example, any American who has ever had a credit card, mortgage, or other kind of load is listed with a credit bureau. Recently, a major credit bureau was breached, and millions’ of Americans were impacted.
This kind of crime can happen locally too. Just this summer, the news reported upon a data breach at a local hospital here in Oakdale, MN. In this case, authorities discovered suspicious email activity. Though the hospital found no evidence of misuse of private information, it’s possible that it came from inside the organization. In another local case, a real estate agent used stolen identities to commit mortgage fraud. He may have had the chance to collect this data from his other professional clients.
Of course, the vast majority of professionals and service providers are honest, helpful people. Still, no matter how much care you take, you’ll have to risk your private data sometimes. Even though you may not have a high risk of becoming targeted by one particular scheme, it’s hard to say that anybody can feel completely safe.
Identity Theft Insurance Basics
For just a few dollars a year, you may choose to purchase identity theft insurance to ensure that you can recover as quickly and painlessly as possible. Identity theft insurance won’t repay money that you’ve already lost to thieves. However, these plans can reimburse you for your time and expenses, prevent further losses, and keep you from having to pay debts for things you never bought.
They also offer resources that will make recovery easier and faster. Some plans also include credit monitoring and other helpful tools that can help you discover problems early and resolve them quickly. The companies that offer these plans will also offer you guidance, so you can spend time fixing the problem and not worrying that you don’t know who to turn to. Just knowing that you have experienced representatives to help you can offer great peace of mind.
Buying Identity Theft Insurance
Some people can bundle identity theft insurance in with their current home and renters policies. Otherwise, companies also offer standalone coverage. For more information about all kinds of high-quality and affordable insurance, contact us at Andreotti Insurance at any time. As independent agents, we work with our community members to find the best and most affordable coverage for their specific needs. We’re standing by to help you too.
