| Of course, Identity theft prevention is also becoming | | | | was telling you about earlier? Well listen carefully the |
| another Big Business. If you drive to work and listen to | | | | next time one comes on the air. I bet you will hear |
| your local news station you can't help but hear those | | | | something like... and you will see a dramatic decrease |
| ever increasing advertisements for these types of | | | | in the amount of junk mail you get in your mailbox. |
| services. The price range for such programs is usually | | | | Why do you think they say that? It is because when |
| between $50 to $150 a year. | | | | you place a Fraud Alert on your Credit report you are |
| The good news is, you can make yourself virtually | | | | stopping Anyone from buying your information from |
| identity theft proof with 2 Simple Steps AND you can | | | | the credit bureaus. (How do you think you get all of |
| do it for Free! | | | | those pre-approved offers in the mail?) That is right, |
| Naturally, using common sense is a start (don't carry | | | | now do you understand how the System works? |
| SSN Cards or ATM Pin numbers on your person) and | | | | Now, with Credit Identity Theft here is another insider |
| keeping other proprietary information in a secured | | | | tip for prevention. Most likely when identifying |
| area. | | | | information gets stolen from say a credit card, the thief |
| Maybe you're even subscribing to a credit report | | | | has already broken through the 3 layers of built in |
| monitoring service and carrying identity theft insurance. | | | | protection that each card has--the Account Number |
| But all of these things are missing some crucial points | | | | and Expiration code, the CVV Code and Address |
| when it comes to stopping identity theft. Plus, you may | | | | Verification. Next they will call your creditors and banks |
| be spending unnecessary monies as you can take the | | | | to change the address on your accounts, get the |
| same preventative measures yourself! | | | | statements rerouted to a different location and...Now |
| Here's something that you probably didn't know--there | | | | they are in business with your credit! |
| are two types of Identity Theft 1.) Basic Identity Theft | | | | Here is a simple way defend yourself against this type |
| and 2.) Credit Identity Theft. Each type is different and | | | | of Theft. Contact your Creditors and Banks. Ask them |
| you must have a plan of protection for both. | | | | if you can set up a password on each account that |
| With Basic Identity Theft the criminal will steal your | | | | has to be given before any address or other changes |
| personal information to get New credit accounts for | | | | can be made. Keep it simple and do not put any |
| their personal use. With Credit Identity Theft your | | | | identifying digits past or present. It should be a |
| identity is stolen to gain access to your Current Credit | | | | combination of a name and numbers. |
| accounts. | | | | If you take these steps, you will have built yourself a |
| Believe it or not Experian, Equifax and Transunion (The | | | | solid defense against both types of identity theft. If you |
| 3 biggest Credit Reporting Agencies) have a Free | | | | already have become a victim of identity theft and are |
| service called Initial Fraud Alert. You can contact them | | | | trying to repair your credit, once you understand how |
| and request this ALERT be placed on all three of your | | | | the Credit System works, you can also repair your |
| credit reports. | | | | credit report yourself, save thousands of dollars and |
| Here is a side note--you know those advertisements I | | | | get your life back. |