Can Consumers Fight Back Against Credit Fraud?
In this age of information, credit fraud is not a difficult crime to perpetrate. The idea that
a thief could gain access to your account information or personal data is not as implausible as you might think--social security
number misuse has increased over the last two years, resulting in a variety of credit-related crimes.
Fortunately, you can fight back against credit fraud by learning how credit fraud and identity
theft occur, and by actively monitoring your credit report for unauthorized account use on a regular basis. Your credit report
will list any new activity on accounts you havent been using, as well as new accounts that you did not open.
One of the best ways to keep track of new information that is added to your credit report is the
CreditCheck Monitoring Service, which provides Online Monthly Monitoring Alerts to inform you of new derogatory information,
recent inquiries into your credit, and several indicators of possible credit fraud. If you would like to sign up for the
CreditCheck Monitoring Service,
click here .
Youll get a free copy of your credit report when you sign up for a free 30-day trial.
To have credit report information at your fingertips is the best way to shut an identity thief
down--you can begin the process of notifying your creditors of the fraud, changing your passwords, and closing down fraudulent
accounts before they wind up in the hands of collectors and compromise your good credit.
How Credit Fraud and Identity Theft Occur
Specific personal data, such as your Social Security number, home address and mothers maiden name,
can be all a thief needs to obtain a fraudulent drivers license, take over existing bank or credit accounts, divert card statements
to a different address, or even apply for new credit card accounts under your name. Thieves can obtain this information in
variety of ways, including fishing through trash for account statements, lifting cards from lost or stolen purses, wallets
and briefcases, or through telephone or Internet scams.
How to Prevent Credit Fraud and Identity Theft
Customers may be in a position to prevent potential identity theft by closely guarding their personal
data. For example, never give out your Social Security number over the phone unless you know the company you are dealing
with and have initiated the call.
Similarly, if your mothers maiden name is not likely to be a secure password, consider changing
it to something a little more difficult for a thief to obtain. Also, carry only the cards you are actually going to use,
and leave official documents like Social Security cards, passports and birth certificates at home or in a safety deposit box.
Account Takeover Fraud
Credit card account statements contain a lot of sensitive information that you dont want thieves
to get a hold of, and even store receipts will frequently have your credit card number printed on them. Sometimes an account
number is all a thief needs to make charges and obtain cash advances. Its a good idea to shred all financial documents before
discarding them.
A thief in possession of sensitive information about you may also be able to go one step further,
and commit account takeover fraud, simply by calling your creditor, reading off your account number, a partial Social Security
number and your mothers maiden name, and asking them to change the mailing address on the account. For this reason, if you
dont receive a credit card statement on time, you should call your creditor immediately to verify that the address has not
been changed.
Checking your credit report may also reveal activity on an account you dont use--get a FREE copy of your credit report to see your currently open accounts, and stay on top of the situation with
the CreditCheck Monitoring Service.
Pre-Approved Credit Offers
Another source of potential credit fraud is pre-approved credit offers. A thief who intercepts
one may fill out the application and change the address to obtain a credit card in your name for which you will never receive
a statement. (To combat this, some creditors will not issue a card to a new address on a pre-approved offer certificate,
but this policy isnt universal.) This makes checking your credit report especially important, because it will show you if
there are accounts being reported in your name of which you are not aware.
The thief may even make the minimum payments for a while, until such time as the card is maxed
out. Then the account would eventually be turned over for collections--in your name, and listed on your credit report. If
you would like to sign up for the CreditCheck Monitoring Service,click here.
Youll get a free copy of your credit report when you sign up for a free 30-day trial.
The CreditCheck Monitoring Service Can Help
In many cases, the only way youll catch credit fraud early is by obtaining a copy of your credit
report. However, most consumers may not have time to order a copy of their credit report on a month-by-month basis, and read
through all the information looking for the items that may indicate possible credit fraud.
Thats why the Credit Check Monitoring Service
is ideal for consumers who want to keep current on their credit information. At roughly half the cost of ordering your credit
report every month, the CreditCheck Monitoring Service provides Online Monthly Monitoring Alerts that show you only recent
changes for easy reference. In addition, you can obtain unlimited free copies of your credit report at any time during your
paid membership!
So click here
to sign up for the CreditCheck Monitoring Service, and get your FREE credit report.
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