Identity Theft Prevention- Prevent Identity Theft And Credit Fraud
The number of victims of identity theft and credit fraud is on the increase. Millions of dollars in credit card fraud is perpetrated on unsuspecting citizens each year, in spite of so-called Data Protection laws. Anyone armed with an above-average computing skills and a fraudulent mind would be able to access personal information of millions. Personal data, such as location and financial details is more and more in the public domain.
Thus, it is necessary to develop good habits to prevent your information from falling into criminal hands. It only takes a few snippets of information - for instance, driver's license, unshredded letter with address etc - for someone to create an entire identity.
The sad thing for victims is that, it can take years and thousands of dollars to correct an credit fraud or identity theft.
We have several solutions here:
A.) All-in-one Identitly Theft Prevention package
- Up to $25,000 worth of Identity Theft Expense Reimbursement - members are automatically covered
- Identity Resoration Service, with fraud restoration exprets who will work to restore your name as effectively and efficiently as possible in the event you are a victim of identity theft
- Card Registration Service that provides 24-hour emergency assistance for registered members whose credit cards are lost or stolen, including emergency stop notices, emergency cash, up to $2,500 in fraud restitution and much more
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B.) Premium Credit Monitoring Service
- Unlimited, online access to 3-in-1 Credit Reports and Triple Scores, which merges member's credit information and score from all three credit bureaus into one easy-to-read report
- Triple Bureau Credit Monitoring, with automatic alerts of activity to members1 files with all three credit bureaus - TransUnion, Experian and Equifax
- Online access to FICO® Scorewatch, which automatically notifies members of changes to their FICO® score - at member-only rates
- No-cost Debt Analysis and "What If" Simulators that help members plan for a healthy credit future
- Unlimited, toll-free access to Credit Report Customer Service
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C.) Extra Privacy Package
- Exclusive offers on Panda computer protection software
- Free resources, including Kiplinger's Your Family Records Organizer CD-ROM and Kiplinger's Know Your Legal Rights
- A Free True Credit E-newsletter subscription that offers the latest news regarding the credit industry and identity theft issues
- A complimentary magazine subscription to one of many popular national titles.
- Free Lost Key Return Service and up to $100 in Rebates for Locksmith Services
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Here are some further tips to help prevent you from being the next victim:
#1. Use a paper-shredder for all documents with your financial or legal information printed on it.
#2. Destroy all pre-approved credit offers you get in the mail before you discard them. Else, someone unscrupulous, can fill out a new address and get credit in your name.
#3. Sign all your credit cards with 'Please ask for photo ID' instead of your signature so no one can use it without showing their photograph
#4. Never give out your important personal information such as SSN or credit card number on the phone unless you initiated the call and you know to whom you are talking.
#5. It is best never to carry your social security number in your wallet.
#6. Remember, you are not under any obligation to give personal details such as SSN to any business that request it, although they do have the right to refuse service. Only government agency, and employment or tax related inquiries must be answered.
#7. Obtain a free credit report annually to ensure the details they hold on you are correct. It also good to obtain your free Social Security file for inspection from time to time to ensure its accuracy. If you are denied credit based on your credit report, the issuing credit bureau must provide you with a free copy upon request by law.
#8. Do not give out confidential information via e-mail or do financial transactions on the Internet unless it's secure and encoded. Ensure the website has got an SSL certificate (should have a padlock sign)
#9. Request the major credit bureaus - Experian, Transunion and Equifax - to remove your name from their lists so as to reduce the number of pre-approved offers you receive.
#10. Check guarantee and check verification agencies must provide the same protection as credit bureaus, such as access to your report and correction of errors. If your check is refused, get the agency name and contact them.
For help in re-establishing good credit and correcting errors, there are non-profit Consumer Credit Counseling services may be able to help you.
Alternatively check out our Do it yourself credit repair tutorial.