Your identity is one of the most frustrating compromises one can experience. There is no great way of preventing this from occurring once your information is leaked. There are, however, steps you can take to protect your credit and mitigate the chance of a successful use of your identity.
Freeze Your Credit
The first step to protect your credit is to freeze it. The best way to start is to tackle the top three credit bureaus. The major three credit bureaus are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. There are other credit bureaus, but by freezing your credit with these three first, you will prevent the majority of fraudulent attacks. Each bureau provides an option for you to freeze your credit. A credit freeze is simply a hold on your credit that will not allow for new accounts to be opened when queried by an institution. A credit freeze is not permanent and can easily be removed if you wish to open a new account. Freezes can be submitted online, over the phone, or postal mail.
Equifax
Phone
(888) 685-1111
Mail
Complete this form
Equifax Information Services LLC
P.O. Box 105788
Atlanta, GA 30348-5788
Check Your Credit
The next step is to be sure you recognize all the activity on your credit report. Visit annualcreditreport.com and review all three of your credit reports. Be sure to check for new or unfamiliar activity.
If you suspect you might be a victim of identity theft, request a fraud alter from each credit reporting company.
- Equifax – www.equifax.com/CreditReportAssistance
- Experian – www.experian.com/fraud
- TransUnion – www.transunion.com/fraud
Monitor Your Credit
Credit monitoring services can alert you to any suspicious activity on your credit report, which can provide an early indication of identity theft. This early detection can help you take action to minimize the damage. Additionally, credit monitoring often offer regular updates on your credit score. Knowing that an eye is kept on your credit can provide peace of mind, especially in the age where identity theft is a significant concern.
While these services are often paid, some monitoring can found for free through credit card companies, financial institutions, and other online services (i.e. Internet protection).
Remove Your Online Information
Some of the information we make available online is within our control. Consider social media where you post where you work, where you live, and connect with all of your friends and family. However, our information is also collected and sold by organizations and companies. This information is much more difficult to hide and remove. The best way to remove this information is by using DeleteMe. DeleteMe searches for your information online and removes it for you, saving you hours of your own time. Plus, they regularly check for your information and remove it when it reappears.
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