Credit Repair Due to Identity Theft

OnlineCreditProfessor.com
Credit Repair Due to Identity Theft

This entry was posted on 2/19/2007 8:49 AM and is filed under Credit Repair,Credit Report,Identity Theft.
"In the past week I have seen serious stories about Identity Theft, how to avoid it, and the consequences of it on the NBC's Today Show, the February issue of Ladies Home Journal, the Yahoo News Finance Page, and several other news outlets. It is no secret that Identity Theft is the fastest growing crime in the United States. It is a crime that is relatively easy to get away with, and the punishments if caught are not severe. Identity theives have moved from using fraudulent credit for one-time major purchases, to buying their everyday necessities. ID theft has become their only occupation. But, they are stealing from consumers, and ruining their victim's credit. The need for credit repair due to identity theft is growing rapidly.Knowing this, how can you protect yourself both online and offline? Although we have written much of this before, it bears repeating:
Take control by monitoring your credit reports frequently. You are entitled to one free credit report each year from each of the credit bureaus. Go to http://www.annualcreditreport.com/ for more information about this absolutely free service mandated by the Federal Government. One time per year, however, is simply not enough. Consider a credit monitoring service such as Equifax Credit Watch Gold 3-in-1Credit Monitoring Service or LifeLock Identity Theft Prevention .
If you must post your resume online, try to avoid offering any personal information such as your address, social security number, or date of birth.
Don't leave personal information in your car, or out in the open in your house. All of your personal information should be locked away in a drawer or locking file box.
Cross-Shred all junk mail, including credit card offers, cellular phone service offers, etc. In addition, always shred credit card bills, bank statements, utility bills, and the like. Identity thieves need little more than your name and address to steal your identity.
Don't be a victim. Guard your personal information, and monitor as closely as possible for any signs of ID theft or fraud. I highly recommend a monitoring service such as LifeLock. It is more than worth it to protect your identity. It is estimated that identity theft victims spend an average of 600 hours over several years trying to clean up the mess caused by identity theives. It is much easier to protect yourself, than to spend the time and effort cleaning up your credit later. "LifeLock Identity Theft Prevention - Save 10%
Tags: identity theft prevention, credit repair