Concerned about Identity Theft and Personal Finances?

Identity theft is a real, and growing crime. There are close to 10 million victims of identity theft each year. Not only do you stand to lose money, but you could lose hours and hours of your time trying to restore your identity.

Most victims need to take time off work to restore their identity and personal finances.

Yes, you should be concerned, but if you take a few simple precautions you a can avoid identity theft and protect your life, money, and time.

If you are looking to protect your personal finances from identity theft, the best thing to do is monitor your finances. Check your bank and credit statements on a regular basis. Look for discrepancies and take action immediately if there are problems.

Most victims are unaware they had their identity stolen until months after it occurred! This is because most people DO NOT monitor their personal finances. This is the most important thing you should do to protect yourself.

Monitor your credit report every few months. There are many resources available to obtain a free report. Contact the credit bureaus: transunion, experian, or equifax to get more information.

Purchase a paper shredder and shred all your personal information. Identity thieves WILL look in dumpsters and garbage for personal information. Make sure you do not put anything in the trash that could be useful for an identity thief.

Identity theft and personal finances should not mix. For more information on protecting yourself take a look at identity theft prevention.

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