Life Event: Identity Theft

Life can seem pretty predictable until one day your checks bounce, your credit cards are declined, or you're turned down for a loan. You're left wondering what happened. It only takes a second for a thief to grab your wallet or an internet "phisher" to snatch your credit card number online, but it will wreak havoc on your life for a long time to come. Make sure you know how to protect yourself before it happens and the steps to take if it happens to you.

Guarding Against Identity Theft

• Know what you can do to minimize your identity theft risk.
• You might not even think of the many ways a thief uses your personal information.
• Outsmart thieves by knowing how they steal your personal information.
• Credit monitoring services: Are they worth it?
• Fraud alerts, reports, and credit freezes can protect you from identity theft.
• Don't check your e-mail until you read about e-mail scams.

Recovering from Identity Theft

• File a police report to protect yourself and clear your financial standing.
• Understand how to create a fraud report and freeze your credit.
• How to replace a Social Security card or obtain a new number.
• Know when and how to close credit card and bank accounts.
• Laws that protect your rights as a consumer.

Preserving and Repairing Your Credit

• Obtain a credit report annually.
• Learn how to correct errors on your credit report before they become a problem.
• How to deal with credit bureaus and reporting agencies.
• Who furnishes information about your credit to credit reporting agencies?
• Can your consumer credit report be used against you?