Identity Theft Tips

It is important that you understand there are steps that you can take to decrease your risk of Identity Theft with your  finances. The more roadblocks you can put between your personal information and the identity thief the better.

Make sure you opt for a full protection plan like SecureNet to protect your family.

Here are some tips to protect your family and get those roadblocks in place:

1. Check your credit report. You are entitled to free access to your three annual credit reports, from Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. Request them all. Space them out throughout the year. Make sure and check all members including your children on a annual basis.
   
   
2. Shred all important documents. Low tech methods of stealing your identity like going through your trash are still the most common way for thieves to get your information. Shred credit card offers and all of your personal information. Do not leave receipts behind at the ATM or gas station.
   
   
3. Watch your mail. Do you still write out checks and put them in an envelop and walk out to the mailbox and lift the little red Identity Thief Flag to let your neighborhood Identity Thief know he has a pickup to make.  Take it to the post office. Stop postal delivery when you’re on vacation.
   
   
4. Use your credit card wisely.  Make sure any websites you shop through are secure; don’t let the card out of your sight while you’re shopping in a retail outlet or paying for dinner. An identity thieve can scan your card on a personal scanner in seconds. Call 1-888-567-8688 (1-888-5-OPTOUT) to have yourself removed from the list to receive pre-approved credit offers. (Opting Out)
5.  Sometimes being suspicious is the best identity protection there is.
   
   
6. Don’t give out credit card or personal information if you don’t have to. Don’t know who’s on the phone? Keep your private information private, especially your social security number.
   
7. Be careful sharing computers. Don’t shop or conduct transaction on a public computer – you just don’t know.
   Victims have had to pay creditors for identity thieves actions for not reporting to the creditor in a timely manner.
   
8. Monitor bank statements and credit card statements. New laws require that you report errors within a short period time.
   
9. Enroll in an identity protection and/or credit monitoring service. It’s true you do have certain responsibilities as a smart consumer to protect yourself. You cannot protect yourself from all of the other forms of Identity theft. Remember it is not a matter of if, but when you will become a victim of Identity Theft. (Identity Theft Monitoring)
   
10. Make sure and update your computer programs including spyware, spam and anti-virus filters. Firewalls are on your computer for a reason: engage them.
    
11. Turn off your computer when you are done. Their is no reason to leave an open door for hackers and Identity Thieves.