| A recent news interview with Lieutenant Scott | | | | yourself and your personal information: |
| Beckman of the Wyoming, Michigan Police | | | | * Check your credit report annually |
| Department was very revealing about identity | | | | * Limit the personal information that you give out |
| theft and your need to be protected. He is part | | | | *Don't put your outgoing mail in a non-secure |
| of their Metropolitan Fraud and Identity Theft | | | | mailbox. Take it to the post office. |
| team. He says identity theft is a very real threat. | | | | *Shred all documents with personal information or |
| According to him, "That is probably one of the | | | | credit offers. |
| most prevalent crimes out there right now." | | | | There are also companies who promise to |
| Beckman notes that the use of fraudulent checks | | | | protect your identity. Although Beckman says, "I |
| is the most common crime his team covers but | | | | would say there's no way you can protect 100% |
| identity theft is growing every year. | | | | against it," he also says that companies like |
| Some people have chosen to put a rider on their | | | | Lifelock are like an insurance policy for your |
| homeowner's insurance policy. The cost of these | | | | identity. "Anything you do to protect your identity |
| identity theft riders varies depending on the | | | | is probably a good thing. Especially if you feel it's |
| carrier of your policy, but can help defray the | | | | been compromised in the past." |
| cost if your identity is ever compromised. | | | | You don't have to spend a lot to take steps to |
| Some other easy and affordable tips to protect | | | | insure your information and your identity is safe. |