Identity Theft

Identity theft is a serious crime, and it is on the rise. The information age creates new challenges for law enforcement, and the battle rages. According to the FTC’s website, millions of Americans have their identity stolen each year. MILLIONS! And the advise the FTC offers on their website: Deter, Detect and Defend. Yikes, three words? Well, there is a bit of an explanation of them, but that is all. So I will quickly break these down.

Deter: Safeguard your information.

  • Shred or Burn documents containing personal information before you discard them.
  • Don’t give out your personal information over the phone, unless you know for sure who you are talking to.
  • Don’t mail your personal information to unknown persons.
  • Never click on links inside emails. Criminals set up fake websites that look real to trick people. Always open a new browser window and type in the web address.
  • Use complex passwords. A password should be at least 8 digits, contain upper-case and lower-case letters, at least one number and at least one special symbol(ie: !,@,#,$,% etc.). Also never use the same password twice, and never store the information on your computer. If you follow these rules your password will be safe, assuming you don’t tell anyone.
  • Secure the personal information you keep inside your house. This is even more necessary if you have roommates, or employees or contractors.


Detect: Watch for suspicious activity in your accounts.

  • Assure all your bills arrive on time.
  • Be sure all the bills that do arrive are accounts you have opened.
  • Inspect your credit report, check to be sure there is no accounts you did not create.
  • Inspect your bank, and other financial statements. Be sure there is no changes you did not make.

Defend: Report it to authorities

  • Place a fraud alert on your credit report. This requires creditors to follow more stringent requirements to open new accounts under your name.
  • lose any accounts fraudulently opened, and any you feel might have been tampered with.
  • File a police report with your local law enforcement officials.
  • Report the crime to the FTC: 1-800-ID-THEFT

Be sure to check out our article about what causes bad credit.  Keeping your credit in tip top shape will be sure to make purchasing easier. It also has added benefits like deceased insurance premiums and advantages in employment and rentals.

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