Identity Theft Protection for National Consumer Protection Week

Identity theft is currently the number one consumer fraud in the country. Learn how to protect yourself.

(PRWEB) February 11, 2005 -- As National Consumer Protection Week comes to an end, it is important to remember the tactics to protect yourself against identity theft. Identity theft is currently the number one consumer fraud in the country. Millions of people were affected by some sort of identity fraud last year. To reduce the possibility of becoming a victim of identity theft, here are a few measures you should consider taking:

·   Shred all documents that contain social security numbers or account numbers. This includes paycheck stubs, monthly bank statements, and credit card receipts with full credit card numbers.
·   Remember to take in your mail every day. With everyones busy schedule, checking the mail can often get overlooked. Unsecured mail boxes are goldmines for id thieves who can intercept pre-approved credit card offers or even the actual credit card itself.
·   Use different passwords. Vary up the passwords you use, make sure you dont have one password for all of your personal information. In addition, it is a good idea to use numbers, caps, and letters in your password so that it is harder to guess.
·   Dont carry your social security card in your purse or wallet. Imagine if your belongings were stolen. Along with your drivers license and credit cards, your social security card could give identity thieves full access to your accounts.
·   Sign up for a credit monitoring service. Identity theft victims often find out that their identities have been stolen far too late. Credit bureaus offer credit monitoring services that alert you once someone opens up a credit line in your name. This way, you can detect identity fraud early to avoid unnecessary stress.

For other tips and services that may help you with identity fraud, visit Balanced Credit (http://www.balancedcredit.com), a great resource to access all of your online credit information. We provide you with links to get your online credit report and/or online credit score from the credit bureau you choose as well as contact information for each of the major credit bureaus.

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