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Things to Do to Keep Someone From Stealing Your Life
Monitor Your Credit
Without exception, there's no better means of ensuring that you're not being victimized
than by keeping close tabs on your financial accounts. For a small fee, usually less than
$10 per report, the three major reporting agencies -- Equifax of Atlanta (888-532-0179),
Experian in Allen, Texas, (888-397-3742) and Trans Union Corp. of Springfield, Pa.
(800-680-7289) -- will mail you a copy of your report at your request. Or, you can visit
TrueCredit's Web Site and pay just a few dollars
for a very thorough, very quick 3-in-1 credit report.
Do Not Disclose Personal Information over the Internet
Supplying personal information to anyone for any reason via the Internet is a bad idea.
Type up a form letter, then mark down a reminder on your calendar to mail the letters,
with payment, at least once a year.
Have Fraud Alerts Placed on Your Credit Reports
Next, you should write to each of the three reporting agencies and have them place a
"fraud alert" on your reports. Once your report is flagged with this alert, no
credit-ratings agency can supply your personal information to a credit-card company or
lender without first contacting you by telephone to get your permission. Call the credit
reporting agencies. If you haven't done so already, call each of the credit-reporting
agencies above and have them put a fraud alert on your report. "Don't waste your time
with their -service departments, insist on speaking directly with someone in their
consumer-fraud divisions," says. Follow up with a letter in writing, and send it by mail
return-receipt requested.
Get and Use a Shredder
Shred:
Protect Your Mailbox
While it's important to dispose of the documents properly, it's also necessary to ensure
that you're getting them at all. Mailbox theft is another way criminals can gain access to
your personal information and junk-mail credit-card solicitations. Consider purchasing a
mailbox that includes a secure locking device. It cost a bit more but it's one less thing
you have to worry about. To protect stop junk-mail solicitations, call the federal Fair
Reporting Act, by calling (888)5-OPTOUT (or 888-567-8688). You can prevent credit-rating
agencies from providing your personal information to credit-card companies and other
solicitors.
Questions? Write to Terri Cullen at fiscallyfit@wsj.com.
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December 14, 2024 ( Saturday ) [TOP OF PAGE] |
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