Identity Theft Protection

Some studies claim that every 79 seconds a person becomes a victim of identity theft. However, there are steps that the consumer can take to lessen the possibility of suffering from this type of crime. It is very important for the consumer to monitor credit reports.

Current and complete credit reports should be reviewed regularly. This can be done by the individual or the consumer can take advantage of the credit report monitoring services offered by each of the three major credit reporting agencies. These services e-mail the consumer when significant changes are noted on the credit report.

The consumer should buy and use a paper shredder for all documents that contain sensitive information. Many thieves steal bank statements and the like out of the garbage. Payments should not be left in the residential mailbox for the mail carrier to pick up, as they can be stolen, along with their information. Instead, they should be brought to the post office.

When paying with a credit card at a point of purchase, the credit card should not leave the consumer’s sight. It’s number can be manually or the magnetic strip copied by new, high-tech gadgets. The consumer must take an active role in the protection of his or her identity and credit.