Have you been the victim of identity theft? Do you have concerns that someone may get your credit information without your authorization?
Identity theft is worse than anything that you will go through. Months, in some cases years of problems because someone else used your identity to obtain all kinds of things, from clothing to trips around the world. All of this because someone, somewhere easily opened an account using your information. There are ways of protecting yourself from identity theftbut which ones really work?
A credit freeze is your best protection against identity theft and credit fraud. Currently there are 39 states with laws that allow residents and victims of identity theft the option to freeze their credit (some will not be effective until 2008 or 2009). This means if someone tries to use your information on an application to obtain credit, even if that someone is you, the application will be denied and no credit will be issued.
The laws concerning credit freezing vary by state. There are some states that do not have any laws allowing for credit freeze, then others that specifically require that you already be a victim of identity theft in...