Life Event: Identity Theft

Life can seem pretty predictable until one day your checks bounce, your credit cards are declined or you're turned down for a loan. You're left wondering what happened. It only takes a second for a thief to grab your wallet or internet "phisher" to snatch your credit card number, but it will wreak havoc on your life for a long time to come. Make sure you know how to protect yourself before it happens and the steps to take if it happens to you.

Guarding Against Identity Theft

• Know what you can do to Minimize Your Risk of Identity Theft.
• You might not even think of the Ways an Identity Thief Uses Your Personal Information.
• Outsmart thieves by knowing how they Steal Your Personal Information.
• Credit Monitoring Services: Are they worth it?
• Fraud Alerts, Fraud Reports and Credit Freezes can protect you from identity theft.
• Don't check your e-mail until you read about E-mail Scams.

Recovering from Identity Theft

• File a Police Report to protect yourself and clear your financial standing.
• Understand how to Create a Fraud Report and Freeze Your Credit.
• Social Security Cards & Identity Theft: How to replace or obtain a new number.
• Know when and how to Close Credit Card and Bank Accounts.
• What Laws Protect Your Rights as a Consumer?

Preserving and Repairing Your Credit

• Obtain a Free Credit Report Annually.
• Learn how to Correct Errors on your Credit Report before they become a problem.
• How to deal with Credit Bureaus and Reporting Agencies.
• Find out who furnishes information about your credit to Credit Reporting Agencies.
• Can your Consumer Credit Report be used against you and what you can do about it.