Showing posts with label Identity Theft. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Identity Theft. Show all posts

Monday, April 19, 2010

Identify Theft Tips 8 & 9

8. Do not mail bill payments and checks from home. They can be stolen from your mailbox annd washed clean in chemicals. Take them to the post office.

9. Do not print your Social Security number on your checks.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Identity Theft--Tips 3 & 4

3. Shred all old bank credit statements and "junk mail" credit card offers before
trashing them. Use a crosscut shredder. Crosscut shredders cost more than
regular shredders, but are superior.

4. Remove your name from the marketing lists of the three credit reporting bureaus
to reduce the number of pre-approved credit offers you receive.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Avoid Identity Theft--Tips 1 to 2

The following tips are by Frank W. Abagnale for Bankrate.com

Identity thieves rob more than 500,000 Americans every year. Credit can be damaged, and fixing it can cost you hundreds of dollars and take hundreds of hours of your time. These steps will help you reduce your risk of identity theft.

1. Guard your Social Security number. It is the key to your credit report and banking accounts and is the prime target of criminals.

2. Monitor your credit report. It contains your SSN, present and prior employers, a listing of all account numbers, including those that have been closed, and your overall credit score. After applying for a loan, credit card, rental or anything else that requires a credit report, request that your SSN on the application be truncated or completely obliterated and your original credit report be shredded before your eyes or returned to you once a decision has been made. A lender or rental manager needs to retain only your name and credit score to justify a decision.