Free Annual Credit Report

While browsing up on some of the latest posts over the Get Rich Slowly blog, I came across this post where JD (the blog’s author) talks about a recent theft of his mail and possible identity theft concerns.

Some of JD’s suggestions with dealing with Identity Theft include The 3 Ds:

Deter
The first step is to deter identity thieves by safeguarding your information.

…

Detect
Detect suspicious activity by routinely monitoring your financial accounts and billing statements. Be alert to signs that require immediate attention.

…

Regularly inspect your credit report. Credit reports contain information about you, including what accounts you have and your bill paying history.

The law requires each of the three major nationwide consumer reporting companies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — to give you a free copy of your credit report every year. But you have to ask for it.

Defend
If you suspect that you may have been (or may become) a victim of identity theft, you can file a “fraud alert” on your credit reports.

Placing a fraud alert entitles you to free copies of your credit reports. Look for inquiries from companies you haven’t contacted, accounts you didn’t open, and debts on your accounts that you can’t explain.

Read the Rest of JD’s Article Here

This just goes to show you that Identity Theft can happen to anyone, even those who are knowledgeable about it and the ways to stop identity theft.

If you are worried about becoming a victim of Identity Theft yourself, be sure to get a copy of your free annual credit report to ensure that all of your information is accurate and free of errors.