| Are you worried about ID fraud or theft? Stop | | | | one of these if you have been a victim of credit fraud. |
| worrying and take simple action that will set your mind | | | | - Request that your name be removed from lists for |
| at rest. There are several ways you can take action | | | | pre-approved credit or insurance, as these are one |
| to make ID fraud so hard or impossible on your identity | | | | way that identities can be stolen. |
| that thieves will move on. | | | | - Order your credit report periodically to scan it and |
| - Place Initial Fraud Alerts - they are the most | | | | become familiar with what it usually looks like, and |
| proactive, straightforward way to protect your credit. | | | | make sure everything, especially your current address, |
| Simply contact the credit reporting companies, let them | | | | is valid. |
| know you have reason to believe your identity may be | | | | With these simple steps in place, you've done just |
| about to be stolen and ask for fraud alerts. These do | | | | about everything you can possibly do to prevent ID |
| expire every 90 days, so if you don't want to have to | | | | fraud as it relates to your credit report, barring placing |
| worry about renewing them (if you still think you need | | | | a credit freeze on your account. Most states do allow |
| them) then a service company can easily and | | | | a credit freeze but this is too drastic of a step for me |
| seamlessly do it for you. There are also extended | | | | at this time and may be too drastic of a step for you |
| fraud alerts that last for 7 years, but you can only get | | | | too. I don't think it's typically necessary. |