| Overviews the growing threat of criminal activity | | | | many credit freezes. When you place a freeze, you |
| associated with consumer credit and identity theft. | | | | pay a fee. From there on, if you want to open any |
| Looks at the weaknesses in individual proactive | | | | new line of credit (loan, credit card, cell phone) the |
| measures to prevent thefts and recommends a viable | | | | freeze must be lifted; there will be a fee for that as |
| hands off solution to avoid being victimized. | | | | well. There are 33 states plus the District of Columbia |
| Whether you want to realize it or not, identity theft is | | | | that have an option to authorize individuals to |
| one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States | | | | implement a credit freeze. Unfortunately, if you don't |
| today. All of us, no matter how careful, can become | | | | live in one of these areas, you can not undertake this |
| victims of identity theft. In 2007 there were seventy | | | | proactive option. |
| nine million credit card and Social Security Number | | | | Because of the many and increasing breaches that |
| thefts according to major news media investigations. In | | | | have been published,there has been an ever increasing |
| fact, it was determined every three seconds another | | | | prominence of credit watch services. What exactly is |
| identity is stolen. That was an increase of four million | | | | a credit watch, and what benefit does such a service |
| additional people over the previous years statistics, that | | | | offer the consumer? Credit Monitoring (or a watch) is |
| had their identity or financial information compromised. | | | | the credit bureau selling the consumer their own |
| Anyone with a Social Security number and assets to | | | | information. After there has been a change on your |
| loose should be concerned with identity theft. | | | | credit report, the bureau notifies you in 24 to 72 hours |
| Unfortunately, a common belief by many people is | | | | that there has been a change. It is then the idividual's |
| they assume they have nothing significant for thief's to | | | | obligation and need to check information for |
| take advantage of. Bear in mind criminals are much | | | | correctness and by the way, if one finds there is a |
| better than you are at making use of your information. | | | | case of id theft, the individual is responsible for any |
| For example; there is credit card theft where | | | | expenses, losses and has to take the time to fix the |
| someone steals your credit card and runs up charges. | | | | mess. The Credit Reporting Agencies take no action |
| Identity theft is where someone steals your personal | | | | to prevent identity theft crime nor, do they help |
| information (social security number, date of birth, name, | | | | consumers eliminate the problem. The FTC says it |
| etc.) and uses your identity to open a new line of | | | | takes an average of 177 hours and over two years to |
| credit, gain employment or even establish citizenship. | | | | clean up an identity or credit compromise, if you can |
| You must realize that your information is stored locally | | | | clean it up at all. |
| and nationally. Your dentist, doctor, banking facility(s), | | | | I'm not trying to come off as a fatalist and give anyone |
| college transcript, club memberships are examples of | | | | the impression there is nothing that can be done about |
| data configurations where your personal information is | | | | criminal activity. If you worry about identity theft, then |
| stored. I don't have to remind you there have been | | | | it's time you got to know about identity theft services. |
| numerous sophisticated agencies and institutions | | | | These agencies provide proactive identity theft |
| hacked into and identities stolen. How simple it is to | | | | protection. |
| have your personal information stolen from a trash | | | | On your behalf, ID theft companies request that fraud |
| container,personal mailbox and even still,some retail | | | | alerts be placed on your accounts. By placing these |
| businesses. Your information like it or not is | | | | fraud alerts, you are asking that creditors take extra |
| everywhere thus, a great step is to shred any paper | | | | care to identify who you are and to investigate the |
| containing your personal information as a proactive | | | | validity of any pending transaction. These services also |
| measure to protect your identity. | | | | request that your name be removed from |
| It's no secret that many savvy consumers have | | | | pre-approved credit card lists and junk mail lists. |
| learned to place fraud alerts on their accounts which | | | | Additionally, services annually order your free credit |
| prompt creditors to call them if someone is trying to | | | | reports from the three major credit reporting bureaus. |
| establish credit in their names. But did you know these | | | | In the event that your identity is compromised, qualified |
| alerts are generally only valid for a period of ninety | | | | professionals are available to assist you in addressing |
| days? Are you really confident enough to believe your | | | | whatever complications may arise. |
| going to take the time or for that matter, even | | | | In summary one might ask; if the consumer can do |
| remember to renew fraud alerts every three months? | | | | these things by themselves, what is the need for an |
| Remember too, just because you have fraud alerts | | | | identity theft service? The simple answer is nothing |
| placed does not guarantee you from becoming a | | | | more than convenience and protection. The assurance |
| victim. | | | | that nothing is overlooked in the shuffle and required |
| There is an option to implement a credit freeze which | | | | responsibilities in everyday living that would keep you |
| locks down all of your personal information making it | | | | from taking the measures necessary to protect your |
| impossible for anyone to open a line of credit in your | | | | identity. These services have but one concern and |
| name, including you. There are also fees involved with | | | | mission, to safeguard your identity and assets. |