In reading The State paper recently, I noticed an article entitled "ID Theft, Fraud Rising, Report Says." The article highlighted that Identity Theft is on the rise in South Carolina and across the country, and it remains the top reason for consumer complaints for the 9th year in a row. A consumer advocate indicated that these types of crimes tend to INCREASE during a recession. Also, during 2008 in SC, ID Theft/Fraud cost consumers $14.2 million.
But the news isn't all bad. The 3 main steps to protecting yourself from identity theft are simple and I will summarize them in a 3-part series. Make them a habit to lower your risk for Identity Theft.
Step 2 of 3: Be on the lookout for problems.
No matter how careful you are, there's always some risk of identity theft. Keep an eye on your accounts so you can spot suspicious activity right away.
· Look out for mail or bills that don't arrive when you expected, which might mean someone has taken your mail.
· Pay close attention to credit card or account statements that you didn't expect to receive, which could be a sign that someone has opened an account in your name.
· If your credit is denied and you don't know why, check your credit report right away to look for problems. (Visit AnnualCreditReport.com for three free reports each year.)
· Pay close attention to your monthly statements, double checking that all the charges and activity are accurate.
· Check your credit report several times a year. Under federal law, each of the three major credit bureaus is required to give you your credit report for free once a year.
For full information on how to respond to identity theft, visit the FTC's "Deter, Detect, Defend" website.
