| According to a recent poll by Experian,
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| | cancel the account and follow up with a
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| one in five Americans has reported they
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| | written letter.
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| have experienced some form of identity
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| | * If youre being denied credit, or your
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| theft. If it happens to you, and your
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| | credit card terms are suddenly being
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| identity is stolen, you might be in for a
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| | changed to higher interest terms, for no
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| lengthy hassle that could cost you your
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| | obvious reason.
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| credit rating and leave a permanent
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| | * Youre suddenly getting phone calls and
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| blight on your financial records.
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| | letters from creditors about purchases
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| How Credit Card Theft Starts
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| | you did not make.
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| Thieves start by targeting your personal
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| | How to Protect Your Credit Information
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| information: Social security numbers,
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| | The best protection is constant awareness
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| bank statements, tax reports, credit card
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| | of the use of your credit information.
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| debit information and passwords, or even
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| | Choose your passwords carefully. Avoid
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| your checkbook. Dont leave this valuable
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| | using any easily available information,
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| information lying around at your office,
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| | such as your mothers maiden name, your
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| or in your car. Be aware that you are
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| | birth date, the last four digits of your
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| leaving a door open for anyone to get
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| | SS#, or your phone number. If you must
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| access to your bank account or credit
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| | use this type of identifier in opening an
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| card information. Question anyone who
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| | account, request a password change
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| asks for your credit information,
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| | immediately after opening the account
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| including employers; find out what their
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| | before it slips your mind. Secure your
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| privacy policy is and get a copy of it.
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| | credit information at all times, even
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| Shred all documents no matter how
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| | around your house--if youre having work
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| insignificant they may seem to you. In
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| | done on your home, or if youre having a
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| addition, dont ever lend your credit card
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| | big party, or your roommate brings home
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| to ANYONE, including family members,
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| | guests. Dont give out any information
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| unless you are willing to take on their
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| | unless you know exactly how it will be
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| debt personally. Many family arguments
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| | used and by whom.
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| have ended up in court with bitter
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| | The Best Defense for Your Credit
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| feelings from one time casual credit card
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| | Security:
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| or debit card lending that got out of
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| | Stay vigilant. Review your credit card
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| hand. When you apply for a credit card,
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| | statements every month, and question any
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| be certain that their online application
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| | suspected purchases by contacting your
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| is secured, and the privacy notice is
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| | credit card issuer directly. If you
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| posted.
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| | suspect an unauthorized purchase, send a
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| Spotting Signs of Identity Theft
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| | letter to your credit card issuer
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| * If youve frequently been missing your
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| | detailing the item in question and any
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| credit card bill, or your mail keeps
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| | reference numbers. The credit card issuer
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| getting lost contact the post office
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| | is required to investigate your claim and
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| immediately. If you live in an apartment
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| | report back to you, in writing, of their
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| complex , find out from your
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| | findings. You can also request a free
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| superintendent or manager if you can
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| | annual monitoring report from each of the
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| change your mailbox key. A missing bill
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| | major consumer reporting agencies:
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| could mean that an identity theft has
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| | Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. A
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| occurred and the billing address has been
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| | recent amendment to the Fair Credit
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| changed.
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| | Reporting Act requires that these credit
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| * If youre suddenly getting credit cards
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| | reporting companies provide these reports
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| (not just a credit card offer) from
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| | to you at your request, every 12 months.
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| companies that you didnt apply. Call
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| | Its your credit. Protect it!
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| these companies and find out if you are
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| | Copyright 2005 Ed Vegliante.
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| the account holder; if not verbally
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