Identity Theft Protection
Protecting your personal and financial information against
identity theft is something that everyone should be concerned
about. Even though there is no one solution to guarantee your
protection against identity theft, there are ways to minimize
your risk by wisely managing your personal information.
The most important thing you can do to protect yourself from
identity theft is to review your credit report as frequently as
possible. You should review your credit report at least once a
year. Keeping a watchful eye on your credit report will alert
you to any unauthorized accounts or any possible fraudulent
activity. Obtaining a copy of your credit report is easy and
well worth the little amount of effort it takes to do so. There
are even many companies that will provide you with a copy of
your credit
report for free.
Many of the companies that will provide you with a copy of your
credit report free of charge can be found on the Internet. Most
of these websites will also provide you with other helpful
resources and information relating to protecting your identity
and credit. Free Credit Report - Credit Score is a reliable
resource on the Web where you can obtain a free copy of your
credit report as well as learn more about credit protection. You
can visit them at www.credit-report-cr
edit-score.com.
Other ways to keep your identity safe is to not to reveal any
personal information until you find out how it will be used and
whether it will be shared with others. This means never giving
out personal information over the phone, through the mail, or
over the Internet unless you were the one to initiate the
transaction.
Putting passwords on your credit card, bank, and phone accounts
is another way to protect yourself against identity theft. Avoid
using easily available information like your birth date, the
last four digits of your Social Security number, your phone
number, or your pet's or your mother's maiden name. Sadly, an
identity thief may be someone you're acquainted with, like a
store clerk who would have personal knowledge of such
information.
To protect yourself from having mail stolen that contains
important personal or financial information, deposit your
outgoing mail in post office collection boxes or at your local
post office instead of leaving it in your mailbox for pick up.
Promptly remove mail from your mailbox after it has been
delivered. If you're planning a vacation, have your mail held at
the post office.
It only takes one person to destroy another person's credit
rating. By following these simple tips you can dramatically
increase the chances of protecting your identity and your
credit. By keeping tabs on your credit report and playing it
smart with your personal information you will keep your personal
information as safe as possible.
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