Comments on: A Few Words About Identity Theft and Some Resources http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2007/07/a-few-words-about-identity-theft-and-some-resources/ Our Journey to a Debt-Free Life Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:04:04 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Moolanomy weekly roundup #3: “My Credit Score” edition | Moolanomy http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2007/07/a-few-words-about-identity-theft-and-some-resources/comment-page-1/#comment-117011 Moolanomy weekly roundup #3: “My Credit Score” edition | Moolanomy Sun, 12 Aug 2007 14:20:51 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2007/07/a-few-words-about-identity-theft-and-some-resources/#comment-117011 [...] Away Debt wrote A Few Words About Identity Theft and Some Resources.  Guard your social security number with your life and shred everything!  Here are some very [...] [...] Away Debt wrote A Few Words About Identity Theft and Some Resources.  Guard your social security number with your life and shred everything!  Here are some very [...]

]]> By: Cash Money Life - A Personal Finance Blog with a Salute to the Military » More Great Personal Finance Posts - Weekly Round Up http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2007/07/a-few-words-about-identity-theft-and-some-resources/comment-page-1/#comment-105248 Cash Money Life - A Personal Finance Blog with a Salute to the Military » More Great Personal Finance Posts - Weekly Round Up Sat, 28 Jul 2007 11:48:10 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2007/07/a-few-words-about-identity-theft-and-some-resources/#comment-105248 [...] Away Debt - A Few Words About Identity Theft and Some Resources. Tricia gives us some great info and a reader account via e-mail. You can never be too [...] [...] Away Debt – A Few Words About Identity Theft and Some Resources. Tricia gives us some great info and a reader account via e-mail. You can never be too [...]

]]> By: LJAMES http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2007/07/a-few-words-about-identity-theft-and-some-resources/comment-page-1/#comment-99688 LJAMES Tue, 24 Jul 2007 19:25:21 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2007/07/a-few-words-about-identity-theft-and-some-resources/#comment-99688 Keep in mind that every time you request a credit report it also dinks your credit score. The credit bureaus think that if you are having credit report request too frequently then you are requesting credit. So, to make a long story short don't request credit reports too often. Once to twice a year at the most. Just thought I would make this side note since I work for a financial institution. Keep in mind that every time you request a credit report it also dinks your credit score. The credit bureaus think that if you are having credit report request too frequently then you are requesting credit. So, to make a long story short don’t request credit reports too often. Once to twice a year at the most. Just thought I would make this side note since I work for a financial institution.

]]> By: Ron http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2007/07/a-few-words-about-identity-theft-and-some-resources/comment-page-1/#comment-99638 Ron Tue, 24 Jul 2007 14:31:35 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2007/07/a-few-words-about-identity-theft-and-some-resources/#comment-99638 Very good and necessary article on identity theft. My wife and I were victims several years ago by a family member. We now shred everything that might remotely be used by someone. We've also placed a fraud alert with the credit reporting agencies so that we are notified if there is any suspicious activity. Finally, I agree with Kristina above. There is absolutely no need to spend money to monitor your credit report. It is however absolutely vital that you take the time to request your report and go through it thoroughly! This is not only to protect yourself against fraud, but just to make sure that nothing is being reported incorrectly. Very good and necessary article on identity theft. My wife and I were victims several years ago by a family member. We now shred everything that might remotely be used by someone.

We’ve also placed a fraud alert with the credit reporting agencies so that we are notified if there is any suspicious activity.

Finally, I agree with Kristina above. There is absolutely no need to spend money to monitor your credit report. It is however absolutely vital that you take the time to request your report and go through it thoroughly! This is not only to protect yourself against fraud, but just to make sure that nothing is being reported incorrectly.

]]> By: Brenna http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2007/07/a-few-words-about-identity-theft-and-some-resources/comment-page-1/#comment-99513 Brenna Tue, 24 Jul 2007 03:46:19 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2007/07/a-few-words-about-identity-theft-and-some-resources/#comment-99513 I have been a victim of identity theft with one of my credit cards. I noticed unauthorized charges on my account the same day I used that particular card. I didn't use this card for awhile and went to two places and used it. Two days later, when I downloaded my transactions on Quicken, I had 3 charges that I didn't do. Long story short, just be careful in general and disputed charges with the credit card company. I have been a victim of identity theft with one of my credit cards. I noticed unauthorized charges on my account the same day I used that particular card. I didn’t use this card for awhile and went to two places and used it. Two days later, when I downloaded my transactions on Quicken, I had 3 charges that I didn’t do. Long story short, just be careful in general and disputed charges with the credit card company.

]]> By: Kristina http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2007/07/a-few-words-about-identity-theft-and-some-resources/comment-page-1/#comment-99444 Kristina Mon, 23 Jul 2007 22:22:57 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2007/07/a-few-words-about-identity-theft-and-some-resources/#comment-99444 I highly suggest people not pay money for credit monitoring services. As the name suggests, all they are doing is monitoring your credit. You can do that for free 3 times a year through the federal government program that Tricia described. 3 times a year is sufficient, especially since you are not liable for fraudulent purchases made in your name even if you discover the fraud several months after the fact. If you do want to spend money to protect your identity, I suggest spending on one of the few ID theft insurance programs out there that monitor your credit AND restore your identity for you. Restoring your identity/credit is the part that takes effort and time that you might not want to spend. It can take dozens or hundreds of hours to untangle the mess of identity theft and to set all of the records straight. I have not chosen to buy this insurance. If my identity were stolen, it would be nice to have another professional take care of all the mess for me. However, at this point I'd rather spend the money elsewhere and take the risk of having to clean up the mess myself should something happen. knock on wood... I highly suggest people not pay money for credit monitoring services. As the name suggests, all they are doing is monitoring your credit. You can do that for free 3 times a year through the federal government program that Tricia described. 3 times a year is sufficient, especially since you are not liable for fraudulent purchases made in your name even if you discover the fraud several months after the fact.

If you do want to spend money to protect your identity, I suggest spending on one of the few ID theft insurance programs out there that monitor your credit AND restore your identity for you. Restoring your identity/credit is the part that takes effort and time that you might not want to spend. It can take dozens or hundreds of hours to untangle the mess of identity theft and to set all of the records straight.

I have not chosen to buy this insurance. If my identity were stolen, it would be nice to have another professional take care of all the mess for me. However, at this point I’d rather spend the money elsewhere and take the risk of having to clean up the mess myself should something happen. knock on wood…

]]> By: louise http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2007/07/a-few-words-about-identity-theft-and-some-resources/comment-page-1/#comment-99406 louise Mon, 23 Jul 2007 20:28:36 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2007/07/a-few-words-about-identity-theft-and-some-resources/#comment-99406 It is actually very very easy to steal someones identity, all you need is a few very basic details about someone. If you think of the information need to apply for a credit card online thats all you need to do it. I know someone this happened to and I have written an article about how easy it was. This lady lost everything. It is actually very very easy to steal someones identity, all you need is a few very basic details about someone. If you think of the information need to apply for a credit card online thats all you need to do it. I know someone this happened to and I have written an article about how easy it was. This lady lost everything.

]]> By: Starving Artist http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2007/07/a-few-words-about-identity-theft-and-some-resources/comment-page-1/#comment-99297 Starving Artist Mon, 23 Jul 2007 14:42:50 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2007/07/a-few-words-about-identity-theft-and-some-resources/#comment-99297 I just posted about a credit card number getting stolen. I've always been careless about my garbage--I don't shred my credit card mail, I usually just throw something really gross on top of it, like spaghetti. I think it's time to start following some of the more conventional advice! Thanks for the post. I just posted about a credit card number getting stolen. I’ve always been careless about my garbage–I don’t shred my credit card mail, I usually just throw something really gross on top of it, like spaghetti. I think it’s time to start following some of the more conventional advice! Thanks for the post.

]]> By: Colleen http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2007/07/a-few-words-about-identity-theft-and-some-resources/comment-page-1/#comment-99199 Colleen Mon, 23 Jul 2007 12:21:19 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2007/07/a-few-words-about-identity-theft-and-some-resources/#comment-99199 Tricia, I am so glad that you wrote about identify theft. I learned from Clark Howard's website a couple months ago that certain states allow consumers to "freeze" their credit report. No one can access your record once a freeze has been placed. This is not for someone who is making a purchase anytime soon, such as a car or home, but it is for someone like me who has all the credit cards she needs and will not be making any major purchases in the near future. You can unfreeze your report for a small fee when the time does come to make a purchase. When I read about this a couple months ago, I was angry to find out that my state did not have this option. The ability to access someone's credit scores without their knowledge benefits only the solicitors. Thankfully, beginning January 1, 2008 my state has enacted this into law, and I intend to "freeze" all of our social security numbers. Having our identify stolen is definitely a scary possibility for all of us. Good article! Tricia, I am so glad that you wrote about identify theft. I learned from Clark Howard’s website a couple months ago that certain states allow consumers to “freeze” their credit report. No one can access your record once a freeze has been placed. This is not for someone who is making a purchase anytime soon, such as a car or home, but it is for someone like me who has all the credit cards she needs and will not be making any major purchases in the near future. You can unfreeze your report for a small fee when the time does come to make a purchase.

When I read about this a couple months ago, I was angry to find out that my state did not have this option. The ability to access someone’s credit scores without their knowledge benefits only the solicitors. Thankfully, beginning January 1, 2008 my state has enacted this into law, and I intend to “freeze” all of our social security numbers. Having our identify stolen is definitely a scary possibility for all of us. Good article!

]]> By: Matt http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2007/07/a-few-words-about-identity-theft-and-some-resources/comment-page-1/#comment-99195 Matt Mon, 23 Jul 2007 12:13:21 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2007/07/a-few-words-about-identity-theft-and-some-resources/#comment-99195 Identity theft is a fact of life in our digital world; great suggestions about keeping it limited and not impacting your life. I've been thinking about investing in a shredder lately and the more I read the more convinced I am it'd be a wise investment. Thankfully I haven't had it happen to me yet, but it's happened to my wife. Thankfully we check our statements and credit card companies are good about refunding money others spent on your card. Identity theft is a fact of life in our digital world; great suggestions about keeping it limited and not impacting your life. I’ve been thinking about investing in a shredder lately and the more I read the more convinced I am it’d be a wise investment.

Thankfully I haven’t had it happen to me yet, but it’s happened to my wife. Thankfully we check our statements and credit card companies are good about refunding money others spent on your card.

]]> By: danielle http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2007/07/a-few-words-about-identity-theft-and-some-resources/comment-page-1/#comment-99185 danielle Mon, 23 Jul 2007 11:40:35 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2007/07/a-few-words-about-identity-theft-and-some-resources/#comment-99185 I heard of children whose parents stole their identities. One mom being interviewed just used the excuse of being a single parent. It was really sad. I heard of children whose parents stole their identities. One mom being interviewed just used the excuse of being a single parent. It was really sad.

]]> By: Lynnae http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2007/07/a-few-words-about-identity-theft-and-some-resources/comment-page-1/#comment-98860 Lynnae Mon, 23 Jul 2007 04:10:15 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2007/07/a-few-words-about-identity-theft-and-some-resources/#comment-98860 That's some really great advice. I'll admit I've been guilty of letting statements sit around for months in the past. Another idea is to get a post office box if you don't have a locking mailbox. That’s some really great advice. I’ll admit I’ve been guilty of letting statements sit around for months in the past.

Another idea is to get a post office box if you don’t have a locking mailbox.

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