15 Preventative Steps to Take Toward Protection Credit
Identity theft is kind of like someone trying to break into your house. Installing a lock will make it difficult for burglars, but no lock is 100% effective. The same is true for trying to protect your identity and credit. You can make it more difficult for someone, but nothing can guarantee that you won't become a victim. Simple steps can make it harder for anyone to obtain and use your personal information without your consent:
Although none of these tips are guaranteed to prevent identity theft, by following them you definitely WILL make it more difficult for someone to steal your identity. And remember, the best protection of all is to use an affordable Credit Monitoring Service.
- You really need to shred if you're going to prevent identity theft. Otherwise, everyday documents can become gold mines to thieves. Be sure to always shred credit card, debit card, and ATM card receipts, unused checks after you close a checking account, pre-approved credit offers you receive in the mail, bills and invoices.
- Get off junk mail lists to cut down on opportunites for any amount of your personal information to be stolen.
- Do not carry your extra credit cards, Social Security card, birth certificate, or passport in your wallet or purse except when necessary. Photocopy everything in your wallet so if it is stolen you know exactly who to call to report it.
- Do not click on links in any emails you receive from financial institutions - even if you're 100% sure they're legitimate. Instead, go to your browser and type in the domain name of the institution and then login to your account. Some emails you receive about your financial accounts are actually fake and are called "phishing" emails.
- Install virus and spyware detection software on your computer and keep them updated.
- Install a lockable mailbox at your residence to reduce mail theft.
- Never leave your purse or wallet unattended at work or in church, restaurants, health fitness clubs, parties, or shopping carts. Never leave your purse or wallet in open view in your car, even when your car is locked.
- Do not have your bank send your new checks to your home address. Pick them up at the bank branch instead.
- Reconcile your check and credit card statements in a timely fashion, and challenge any purchases you did not make.
- Scrutinize your utility and subscription bills to make sure the charges are yours.
- Limit the number of credit cards you have, and cancel any inactive accounts.
- Never give any credit card, bank, or Social Security information to anyone by telephone, even if you made the call, unless you can positively verify that the call is legitimate.
- Memorize your passwords and personal identification numbers (PINs) so you do not have to write them down. Be aware of your surroundings to make sure no one is watching you input your PIN.
- Keep a list of all your credit accounts and bank accounts in a secure place such as a safe deposit box at the bank or a safe in your home, so that you can quickly call the issuers to inform them about missing or stolen cards. Include account numbers, expiration dates, and telephone numbers of customer service and fraud departments.
- Know the date your billing statements arrive in the mail each month. If you don't receive one when expected, notify the company immediately.
Although none of these tips are guaranteed to prevent identity theft, by following them you definitely WILL make it more difficult for someone to steal your identity. And remember, the best protection of all is to use an affordable Credit Monitoring Service.
Katie Couric on Identity Theft
The goal of this Protection Credit website is to make you more aware of identity protection and credit protection by providing information and resources about credit reports and credit monitoring, fraud alerts, placing a credit freeze, as well as taking proactive steps to not become a victim of identity theft in the first place. Thanks for visiting this site today and referring it to your friends!