| You can take steps to protect yourself from credit | | | | Don't give your Social Security number out to anyone |
| identity theft, and it's an extremely good idea to do so. | | | | unless legally required to do so. You never know when |
| This crime is one of the fastest growing in the world, | | | | someone is going to steal it and use it to take over |
| and the chances of you becoming a victim of it are | | | | your identity. Don't give it out over the phone, either. |
| extremely high. All it takes is a moment of | | | | You never know who is listening. |
| carelessness for a criminal to steal your identity and | | | | Always shred your personal documents before putting |
| leave you floundering in a sea of trouble for years to | | | | them in the trash. Identity thieves often go through your |
| come. Drastically reduce your risk of becoming | | | | trash once you put it out on the curb, and take any |
| another statistic by taking appropriate precautions that | | | | papers with your private account numbers on it. |
| are easy and available to everyone. | | | | Shredding thwarts them in this. |
| The implications of credit identity theft go way beyond | | | | Ask the bank to allow you to pick up your new |
| having a ruined credit report. You're probably aware of | | | | checks at the bank itself. Thieves often steal your |
| the loans and credit cards thieves often take out in the | | | | new checks out of your mailbox, and use them to buy |
| names of their victims. Did you also know that you | | | | things by forging your signature. |
| could even land in legal trouble as a result of this | | | | Check your credit report on a frequent basis. Usually |
| crime? It's true. Often, criminals will commit crimes using | | | | every 6 months at a minimum is sufficient. Be on the |
| the names and personal information of their victims, | | | | lookout for fraudulent charges, and if you see any, |
| and the victim ends up with a warrant out on them as | | | | report them to your creditors right away. If you have |
| a result. If this happens to you and you get pulled over | | | | to dispute those charges, do so. Your credit and |
| for a routine traffic stop, you'll be going to jail as soon | | | | peace of mind depends on it. |
| as the police officer runs your driver's license number. | | | | These actions will go a long way toward protecting |
| Once you're in jail, it can take a long time, sometimes | | | | you from identity theft. You'll greatly reduce your |
| days or even weeks, to straighten out the mess. It's | | | | chances of being a victim. Credit identity theft is a |
| happened to others, so don't think it couldn't happen to | | | | serious problem, and one of the most difficult to clear |
| you. | | | | up. Once your reputation and credit is damaged, it's |
| The good news is, you can take measures to protect | | | | hard to fix them. By avoiding the problem in the first |
| yourself from being a victim of identity theft. By putting | | | | place, you'll be taking an excellent and proactive step |
| the following tips into action, you'll greatly reduce your | | | | toward staying in control of your life. |
| risk of disaster befalling you: | | | | |