Avoiding identity theft by monitoring your credit report regularly is key for solid identity theft protection.

By watching the news you will know that everywhere there is risk of identity theft. Regular reports of stolen identities en masse are becoming increasingly common, never mind the frequency each day of individual identity thefts.

Tune in at random and you may well hear the latest bulletins about government agencies losing sensitive information, perhaps a laptop containing multiples of thousands of individuals’ personal records, corporate data breaches where criminals having hacked into a database steal complete files of personal records that were stored there. Medical facilities and colleges fall victim; the very establishments in which we place unconditional trust are at risk daily.

Avoiding Identity Theft…

There are a number of scams for stealing an identity that users face; it is astounding and frightening. Many of the scams and thefts don’t get noticed or even reported until many months after they have happened. By then, victims can already be suffering the damage and losses that come along with identity theft.

What can you possibly do to ensure your personal information stays safe?

Avoiding identity theft by monitoring your personal credit report is your best strategy for protection. In the US, three major agencies monitor your personal credit. These agencies, or credit bureaus track a host of personal information regarding your financial identity:

• Which companies have granted you a line of credit.

• Which companies offered you a line of credit.

• Which companies have ever reviewed your credit.

• Which companies in the past you have had lines of credit with.

• How well you have maintained your lines of credit.

• Your residence for the last ten years or longer.

• Which jobs you have held in the last ten years or longer.

Read Part 2 On Avoiding Identity Theft  >>