| |
| |
|
Credit Information |
|
|
|
Minimize your Risk for Identity Theft
Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in America. According to the Federal Trade Commission, the number of identity theft incidents reached 9.9 million in 2003. These crimes are estimated to have taken the average victim $500 and 30 hours to resolve. From stolen credit cards to total identity kidnapping, these ugly and prevalent crimes are hard to prevent and often difficult to correct. Although it is hard to truly avoid becoming a victim of identity theft, there are a few ways you can guard against this damaging crime. 1. Types of identity theft Identity theft crimes range from purse snatchings to kingpin-style fraud rings. The definition of identity theft is a crime in which an imposter obtains key pieces of personal information, such as a Social Security number, in order to impersonate someone else. Identity theft can occur when someone takes your mail, steals your wallet or swipes your records from an institution. Most cases can be resolved fairly easily if they are caught early. Creditors and banks usually hold you responsible for only the first $50 of fraudulent charges. The most serious cases of fraud can take several years and many resources to resolve. 2. Preventative measures In this world of smiling strangers, it can be tough to keep your identity safe. The best security policy is to be aware of fraud and cautious about where you share personal information. Check your account statements carefully each month and keep an eye out for suspicious activity on your credit report. A paper shredder can also be a powerful tool for making sure personal information and pre-approved credit offers don't end up in the wrong hands. 3. If your identity is stolen If you suspect that your identity has been stolen, the first step is to get all the facts about the damage. Become your own detective-search your credit report and bank accounts for clues. Ask your creditors to immediately cancel any fraudulent charges and consider putting a security alert on your credit report. If the theft is serious, file a police report. If fraudulent records start to show up on your credit report, send letters of dispute to the reporting agencies with copies of documentation supporting your claim. Signing up with a credit monitoring service will inform you of changes to your credit. It may take a while to fully recover the security of your accounts, but it's crucial that you don't let the fraud escalate. Get your credit report and score NOW! (http://www.legalhelper.ws/credit-reports-online.aspx) About The Author Jeffrey Broobin is a free-lance writer on family and finance issues; his main goal is to help people during their complicated period of life. jeffreyb@legalhelper.ws Website: http://www.legalhelper.ws
MORE RESOURCES:
Credit - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
The Truth About Credit What you might not know about credit.Some people don't know about a loop hole in the credit reporting system. Credit Card Incentives Credit card companies want your business. After all, lending money to people is profitable. Shoppers Beware - Tis The Season It's the number one complaint from consumers and it only takes a moment for you to become a victim. While you search for holiday bargains, identity thieves are searching for targets - unsuspecting consumers. Winning The Credit Game! Everywhere we go, the word credit can be found, shining huge dollar signs in front of our very eyes. Everyday we receive solicitation and promotions offering us credit. Bounced Checks - Straight Talk On Dealing With Bad Checks (NSF) A check can be considered bad if it is bogus or the NSF checks (non sufficient funds check), also referred as bounced check.The issuance of a NSF or bad checks is an unlawful act and can attract civil and criminal penalties. How You Can Avoid Becoming A Victim Of Identity Theft To reduce or minimize the risk of becoming a victim of identity theft or fraud, there are some basic steps you can take.The most important one is to ask periodically for a copy of your credit report. Credit Report - Watch Out for Parking Tickets The economic downturn of the last five years has affected millions of Americans, but it has also affected the budgets of states, cities and counties. With limited tax dollars with which to work, various government entities have had to try to stretch their budgets to allow them to continue to function. Maximizing Credit Card Rewards We spend money every single day on many different types of products and services and the banks' newest offer is that of saving when spending if you use their services; that is if you pay for your expenditures with special credit cards. These credit cards are part of a wide offer and the best thing to do is read as many bank-offers as possible before choosing a particular card. Can Credit Search Entries Affect Your Ability to get Approved for a New Loan in the UK? About Search Entries:Every time a lender checks your credit history from your credit file (i.e. Understanding the Function of Credit What is Credit?Credit is the backbone and the engine behind the workings of the economy. Credit simply allows individuals and companies to borrow funds in good faith and pay it back over a specified time frame. Easing Your Financial Burdens With Credit Counseling It is a well-publicized fact that more of us are getting ourselves into greater debt, and this may be true for you. The embarrassment of your financial situation can mean you are unlikely to seek credit counselling or other credit management solutions. How To Repair Your Credit Report A credit report is run on a buyer when he or she needs to buy something that will take a long-term loan, such as an automobile or a house. The credit report can come from one of three agencies - Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union. Credit Cards: How To Use Them Credit cards can be a very quick way of getting into even more debt if you do not know how to use them properly. UK debt is now at an all time high and, excluding mortgages, Credit Cards are one of the main contributors. Useful Tips When Choosing Credit Cards Chances are you have received your share of "pre-approved" credit card offers in the mail, some with low introductory rates and other perks. Many of these solicitations urge you to accept "before the offer expires. Warning: Free Credit Report Imposter Websites Springing Up on the Web A recent amendment to the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies to provide consumers with a free copy of their credit report, upon request, once every 12 months.Access to the free credit reports has been phased in beginning last December in the West and will finally be nationwide by 1 September. Credit Cards: Pros and Cons Sure, there are a lot of problems with credit cards, but there are a lot of good things attached to them as well. For instance, if you have a small business, fleet credit cards can keep your books in order when you issue them to drivers of company vehicles for gas and automobile repairs. ChexSystems: Who They Are and How it Affects You ChexSystems is a company that maintains a subscriber membership service used in the banking industry. The members consist mainly of Banks, and Credit Unions, but can include other types of Financial Institutions. 5 Things Your Credit Card Company Keeps Quiet About Credit Cards can bankrupt you if you let them run away from you. The various Credit Cards companies are in it for profit so they will not generally alert you to things you can do to save yourself money. 4 Steps to Creating Good Credit As a consumer you've learned the importance of establishing a good credit rating with your lenders. Whether you are shopping for a new home or auto, or searching for the best deals on insurance, your credit worthiness will be judged by your credit rating or credit score. 10 Dirty Tricks Credit Card Companies Play The credit card companies make billions each year in legitimate interest charges and fees, but are under constant pressure from the shareholders to increase their earnings. To make this extra money the credit card companies sometime adopt some dirty tricks to make this money.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
