Reducing the Risk of Identity Theft

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) July 19, 2010 -- You can’t eliminate identity theft altogether but it is definitely possible for you to make it harder for thieves to steal your identity. Among the things you can do include:

1. Do you really need to fill that out? Don’t automatically answer every blank portion of every application form. Ask questions about any suspicious information-gathering activity of creditors, merchants, educational institutions or employers. Ask if sensitive portions can be left blank.

2. Who needs to know your number? Stop telling people your credit card number. If someone calls you asking for it, be sure that you are talking to a legitimate agency first before revealing any financial data. Remember that unless you made that call, it difficult to determine is the person you’re talking to is for real.

3. Is your statement accurate? Every time you receive your credit card statement, carefully check for fraudulent charges. Don’t automatically pay the amount you see on the first page. Also, if you’re no longer receiving the bill or are receiving it late, it is possible that someone might be using a fraudulent address. In this case, call your credit card company immediately.

4. Should you ask for a credit report? The answer is definitely yes. Under federal law, everyone can get a free report from the three credit reporting agency including Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian. After you ask for your copy, check for fraudulent information.

Identity theft is a fact of life. Never think that “it can never happen to me”. Those who had been victims of this scam had the same line of thinking. Start taking precautions now to protect your identity.