Identity Theft in America.

Identity theft in America is one of our fastest growing crimes. Identity theft is the number one complaint received by the Federal Trade Commission... FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS! Last year alone, more than 8 Million people in America were victimized by identity theft. 

Identity thieves may hold information six months to a year before using it. Then, when they do begin to use your stolen identity, the information may be used as many as 30 times on average  The financial expense that identity theft causes can be devastating. But equally frustrating are the hundreds of hours the victim of identity theft in America will spend talking to banks, credit card companies, credit reporting agencies, and police.  

College identity theft is one of the greatest threats to the financial well being of college students. College students receive tremendous amounts of solicitation and credit card offers, making them one of the main targets for identity theft.

Today, it is more important than ever before to take the necessary steps to be sure your personal information remains only your personal information. Here are five good tips to help you avoid the hours, expenses and headaches of trying to repair the damage caused by Identity theft in America.

1.  Place Fraud Alerts On Your Credit Reports
A fraud alert will make it very difficult for anyone other than yourself to open a new line of credit in your name. It has been shown that fraud alerts are 82% effective in stopping criminals from using your valuable credit. Fraud alerts are difficult to maintain on a permanent basis since they must be renewed every 90 days, with each of the three credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, & Trans Union). Identity theft protection like that provided by LifeLock Identity Theft Protection will keep these fraud alerts in place for you.

2. Order All Three Free Credit Reports
The three credit reporting agencies will give you a free credit report annually. Even if you have no reason to believe you have been a victim of identity theft, get the reports and check them for any potential problems or inconsistencies. Remember most identity theft in America goes undetected until most of the damage has been done. Visit annualcreditreport.com to order your reports.

3.  Opt out of Unsolicited Credit Card Officers
This will prevent credit agencies from checking your credit without your permission and reduces the risk of and identity thief going through your mail and opening credit in your name. At optoutprescreen.com you may choose a five-year, or a permanent opt-out status.

4.  Get A Shredder, And Use It
It is a very good practice to shred every piece of mail after you have finished with it. The same goes for all personal documents that you no longer need. Even though there is a major shift to electronic identity theft in America, the majority of identity theft is still accomplished by digging in your trash. If your documents are shredded before they are discarded, it will be infinitely more difficult to steal your identity in that manner.

5.  Get Expert Protection
Preventative measures can be taken by everyone, but nothing can stop all identity theft. There are many companies that provide consumers with valuable expertise when it comes to preventing identity theft in America. When you choose one of them, be sure they provide convenience, support, protection, and most importantly, a guarantee. A guarantee that they will help you if you do become a victim. LifeLock Identity Theft Protection is the industry leader in proactive identity theft protection. LifeLock backs their service with a $1,000,000 total service guarantee. Click here to get a 10% discount on LifeLock Identity Theft Protection. Whether you are protecting yourself, your family, your company, or your employees, LifeLock has the identity protection you are looking for.

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