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Verify Your Credit Report is Accurate. |
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See Who Has Been Looking at Your Credit Report. |
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Protect Yourself from Credit Fraud and Identity Theft. |
Identity theft is now the fastest growing white collar crime in the United States. The FTC estimates that nearly 9 million Americans have their identity stolen each year.
Although you legally do not owe anything when someone else uses you name fraudulently, it can often be difficult to prove this and it can take months and even years to get everything back to normal, costing you a huge amount of time and resources. In the meantime, you can be left with no access to credit as credit card companies, banks, utilities companies and other financial institutions can cut off your credit accounts until your good name is restored.
Identity thieves get access to your personal information in different ways by:
-Stealing your mail.
-Copying, scanning or taking pictures of your information in a retail transaction.
-Stealing data at companies that have your information.
-Stolen wallets or purses
-Dumpster diving; retrieving documents throw in the trash by you or a business that has your information.
-Computer viruses
-Email Phishing
-Changing your address at the Post Office through a change of address form in order to receive your bills. financial statements at their address.
- etc...
So How Do You Protect Yourself?
Order and frequently monitor your credit report for any suspicious activity.
Always shred documents containing personal or financial information.
Only put your name on your checks; no social security number, address or even phone number.
If you do receive preapproved credit offers, make sure you destroy them before throwing them out.
Don't carry your social security number, birth certificate or passport in your wallet.
Carefully review all monthly financial statements to be sure there is no fraudulent activity.
Never give out personal information over the phone unless you are absolutely sure to whom you are speaking.
Never give yout personal information on the internet unless you are absolutely sure you are on a secure website.
Do not click links from emails to get to an online account - it may be a fake phising email directing you to a counterfeit site. If you think the email is legitimate, type in the web address of your account yourself.
Although you legally do not owe anything when someone else uses you name fraudulently, it can often be difficult to prove this and it can take months and even years to get everything back to normal, costing you a huge amount of time and resources. In the meantime, you can be left with no access to credit as credit card companies, banks, utilities companies and other financial institutions can cut off your credit accounts until your good name is restored.
Identity thieves get access to your personal information in different ways by:
-Stealing your mail.
-Copying, scanning or taking pictures of your information in a retail transaction.
-Stealing data at companies that have your information.
-Stolen wallets or purses
-Dumpster diving; retrieving documents throw in the trash by you or a business that has your information.
-Computer viruses
-Email Phishing
-Changing your address at the Post Office through a change of address form in order to receive your bills. financial statements at their address.
- etc...
So How Do You Protect Yourself?
Order and frequently monitor your credit report for any suspicious activity.
Always shred documents containing personal or financial information.
Only put your name on your checks; no social security number, address or even phone number.
If you do receive preapproved credit offers, make sure you destroy them before throwing them out.
Don't carry your social security number, birth certificate or passport in your wallet.
Carefully review all monthly financial statements to be sure there is no fraudulent activity.
Never give out personal information over the phone unless you are absolutely sure to whom you are speaking.
Never give yout personal information on the internet unless you are absolutely sure you are on a secure website.
Do not click links from emails to get to an online account - it may be a fake phising email directing you to a counterfeit site. If you think the email is legitimate, type in the web address of your account yourself.
LifeLock is a great identity theft prevention service at a great price.
They now have a special offer where you can get 30 days free protection plus $21 off the price of the service.
Their preventive services will place fraud alerts on your credit files with all 3 bureaus, meaning that lenders must write or call you for verification before they can issue new credit in your name.
Since most identity theft occurs when thieves use your personal information to open new credit accounts such as credit cards, bank accounts, etc.., fraud alerts prevent identity theft by stopping the fraudulent accounts from being opened in the first place.
The CEO of LifeLock stands behind his product so firmly that he will gladly hand out his social security number on the website and on his Tv commercials!
They now have a special offer where you can get 30 days free protection plus $21 off the price of the service.
Their preventive services will place fraud alerts on your credit files with all 3 bureaus, meaning that lenders must write or call you for verification before they can issue new credit in your name.
Since most identity theft occurs when thieves use your personal information to open new credit accounts such as credit cards, bank accounts, etc.., fraud alerts prevent identity theft by stopping the fraudulent accounts from being opened in the first place.
The CEO of LifeLock stands behind his product so firmly that he will gladly hand out his social security number on the website and on his Tv commercials!
AnnualCreditReportSite
...financial advisors and consumer advocates suggest that you review your credit report periodically...to help guard against identity theft
Federal Trade Commission (www.ftc.gov)