Credit Monitoring

By monitoring your credit report, you can see and verify when an identity thief is opening new credit accounts in your name as this will likely show up on your credit report.

While monitoring your report you may find some errors. This does not automatically indicate that someone has stolen your identity, it could simply mean a clerical error. However, you will want to ensure all errors are corrected.

Signs To Look For if You are a Victim of Personal ID Theft

• Monitor all the balances and transactions of your financial accounts. Unexplained withdrawls and/or charges could indicate an identity thief at work.
• Watch your mail. Ensure you receive all your bank and credit statements monthly and make note of what part of the month they normally arrive. Failure to receive these could indicate an address change was made on your behalf from an identity thief.
• Receiving credit cards that you did not apply for. If you didn’t apply for them, who did? Contact the credit card company immediately.
• Credit denial for loans, mortgages, credit cards, etc., for no apparent reason.
• Receiving notices or calls from creditors or debt collectors for goods and services you did not purchase nor receive.

Steps to Take:

Monitor your credit report regularly. Although some suggest monitoring your report at least annually, too much damage can be done in one year. Try to check your credit report at least two or three times a year. If you are already a victim of identity theft or have had your wallet/purse lost or stolen, monitor your credit report more frequently.

Contact Debbi Carroll for a FREE 15 minute consultation on protecting your family or your employees from Identity Theft