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