‘Tis the Season to Be Wary – Ways to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft

The holiday shopping season is in full swing with consumers making purchases online, in the store, and over the phone. With every non-cash transaction, there is the chance personal information could be exposed to unauthorized eyes.

Allstate Insurance Company offers Identity Theft Expenses coverage to its customers as an optional annual $40 add-on to auto, homeowners, renters, and condominium/co-op policies. There is no deductible and total coverage limit goes up to $25,000. Plus, Allstate offers customers access to a third-party firm to help address effects the victim may face and assist in identity restoration.

“Allstate is in the business of protecting and preparing its customers,” said Allstate NY spokesperson Shirley Eizember. “With the rapid growth of the information age, it’s necessary to offer a product designed to help ease the shock of identity theft and protect our customers from loss in the form of expenses incurred in restoring one’s identity.”

When identity theft occurs, not only do the victims experience loss, they spend days resolving issues created from the theft, such as meeting with an attorney, re-applying for credit or loans denied as a result of the theft, contacting creditors…the list goes on.

Allstate’s Identity Theft Expenses coverage helps to reimburse those insured for lost time at work, attorney fees, phone calls, mailing costs, loan re-application fees, and more; and the benefit is designed to help reduce the time victims spend trying to recover what they have lost.

The following are tips that might help individuals better protect themselves:

• Do not carry un-needed credit cards
• Cancel your unused, lost, or stolen credit card accounts immediately
• Keep important personal documents in a secure place and do not carry originals or duplicates in your wallet
• Check your credit history periodically
• Report unauthorized activity and hire an attorney for credit report
• Store receipts in a safe place
• Never give your social security number out, especially not on the telephone or over the Internet when you have not initiated the contact

“The Identity Theft Expenses coverage endorsement is experiencing success statewide,” said Eizember. “It is our responsibility to offer new products to meet the changing needs of our customers.”

For More information and a new quote please call Shirley Eizember, Pinckney Insurance Agency, 41 Port Watson St, Cortland New York. 607-756-8505

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer known for its “You’re In Good Hands With Allstate®” slogan. Now celebrating its 80th anniversary as an insurer, Allstate is reinventing protection and retirement to help nearly 16 million households insure what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow. Consumers access Allstate insurance products (auto, home, life and retirement) and services through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, and Allstate exclusive financial representatives in the U.S. and Canada, as well as via www.allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate®.

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