| It's one of the fastest growing crimes in the country, | | | | your credit card information, bank accounts, and other |
| and most victims are unaware they've become a | | | | finances. Is it something like the last four digits of your |
| target until long after the crime is committed. We're | | | | Social Security Number or your mother's maiden |
| talking about identity theft. In today's world, information | | | | name? If so, change it. Identity thieves are a crafty |
| travels faster than ever, and that includes your | | | | bunch, and they'll easily crack a simple password. Think |
| personal information. If it falls into the wrong hands, | | | | about something that you can remember that includes |
| your personal info could be used to acquire credit | | | | a variety of uppercase and lowercase letters |
| cards, loans, or to open accounts. | | | | combined with numerals. If an institution asks for your |
| Unknown to you, somewhere, someone could be using | | | | SSN or mother's maiden name, insist on another |
| your good name for their own criminal purposes, and | | | | identifier. |
| you'll be the one held accountable. In 2004, 3.6 million | | | | Also, secure your personal information at home, at |
| American households had at least one person who | | | | work, and while you travel. Don't leave your wallet or |
| was a victim of identity theft. Don't let it happen to you. | | | | any important receipts lying around the house or the |
| Prevention is key | | | | office. Someone can easily pick it up, write down a |
| The best way to fight identity theft is to prevent it | | | | few numbers, and set it back down without you ever |
| from happening in the first place. Since you could be a | | | | being the wiser. |
| victim right now and not know it for months, it's | | | | One man's trash is another man's treasure |
| important to check your credit report. Under an | | | | Truer words were never spoken when it comes to |
| amendment to the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, | | | | identity theft. Thieves will do whatever it takes to get |
| you have a right to a free copy of your | | | | your personal info, including digging through your trash |
| comprehensive credit report once every 12 months. | | | | to get the numbers they need. Buy a shredder, and |
| Take advantage. Visit to get started. | | | | use it. Credit applications, receipts, bank statements, |
| Once you have your credit report in hand, check it | | | | insurance forms, and any other document containing |
| carefully for any irregularities. It's also a good idea to | | | | personal identification that you are tossing should |
| put a fraud alert on all of your credit reports. The three | | | | always be shredded first. And about those unsolicited |
| major credit bureaus-Equifax (800-525-6285), | | | | credit applications that clog up your mailbox every |
| TransUnion (800-680-7289) and Experian | | | | day-you can put a stop to them. Call 1-888-5-OPTOUT |
| (888-397-3742) will all put a free alert on your reports | | | | to stop receiving these offers. |
| that will tell companies to call and inform you when | | | | Speaking of mail, hopefully you get yours out of a |
| someone tries to open an account in your name or | | | | locked mailbox. If not, ask your postal worker about |
| tinker with an existing one. The alert lasts 90 days, so | | | | getting one. Never deposit your outgoing mail in an |
| give yourself a reminder to call and update it every | | | | unsecured mailbox. Drop it in a collection box or run it |
| three months. | | | | by the post office if need be. |
| Next, think about the passwords you use to access | | | | |