Its one of the fastest growing crimes in the country, and most victims are unaware theyve become a target until long after the crime is committed. Were talking about identity theft. In todays world, information travels faster than ever, and that includes your personal information. If it falls into the wrong hands, your personal info could be used to acquire credit cards, loans, or to open accounts.
Unknown to you, somewhere, someone could be using your good name for their own criminal purposes, and youll be the one held accountable. In 2004, 3.6 million American households had at least one person who was a victim of identity theft. Dont let it happen to you.
Prevention is key
The best way to fight identity theft is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Since you could be a victim right now and not know it for months, its important to check your credit report. Under an amendment to the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, you have a right to a free copy of your comprehensive credit report once every 12 months. Take advantage. Visit annualcreditreport.com to get started.
Once you have your credit report in hand, check it carefully for any...