Dealing With The Threat Of Identity Theft

Theft of identity is a significant problem in the world today - impacting a new person every minute of every day. Unfortunately, one of the biggest issues surrounding this threat is that most people disregard it, or believe that they simply couldn't become a victim themselves. Indeed, a lot of consumers think that, despite the various types of identity theft that they may have read about, only gullible individuals become victims. However, this is simply not the case, as identity theft can happen to anyone, at any time - and what's worse - you may not even realize that you have already become a victim.

While it may not be possible for anyone to completely prevent identity theft from happening, as criminals come up with new and more complex ways to access our data and steal our finances without alerting us, it is possible to protect yourself in a number of different ways.

Using Credit Monitoring Services

Potentially the best form of protection against credit fraud and identity fraud comes in the form of credit monitoring services. These solutions, such as the ones featured at http://www.identityguard.com/ give you access to information about your credit data. What the service provider does is monitor your data from the credit bureaus every business day.

By monitoring this information on a daily basis, these services alert you when they detect certain activities, giving you the opportunity to confirm the changes are legitimate, or may be evidence of someone else gaining access to your data and your accounts. In other words, the more you monitor your credit, the more likely you will be to identify theft of identity and stop the criminals from wreaking extra havoc on your future.

Protecting your Identity

Combined with basic common sense - such as shredding sensitive documents before you place them in the trash, and ensuring you cover your PIN at the ATM machine, credit monitoring services could offer you a way to avoid getting ruined as you may be able to act early enough to stop the criminals before your reputation and finances are ruined.

Finding Ways To Identify Theft Of Identity

Although it may seem a little old fashioned to people who started worrying about fraud decades ago, it's important to remember that identity theft and credit fraud still remain to be a significant issue in the world of today. In fact, regardless of how cautious you may be with your finances and personal details, it's all too easy for people to suddenly become victims of identity fraud, and continue through life without noticing that their finances are being ravaged and their credit reputation is in disrepair.

The farther we move into the modern world of new technology, the more the ability to identify fraud becomes a crucial task, as criminals discover brand new ways of sneaking into our accounts, and getting their hands on our private data. So what can you do to identify credit fraud and stop it in its tracks?

How to Identify Credit Fraud

The best way to determine whether you may have become a victim of identity theft, is to keep a close eye on your credit rating and credit file accounts. Perhaps one of the biggest issues in place with instances of fraud, is the fact that many people forget to look at their credit data for months on end - giving criminals plenty of time to cause significant damage. With credit monitoring services, however, your credit data is monitored daily and if certain changes are detected, you receive a prompt alert enabling you to look into the activity.

Indeed, being able to identify theft of identity with the help of Identity Guard®, for instance, can help to provide a much needed layer of protection against the criminals who are looking to profit from your credit.

Caring For Your Credit

Your future credit rating will have a significant impact on the way that you live your life. In other words, without good credit, you may not be able to get the job, the house, or the loan that you so desperately want. This is why it is so important for everyone to take steps towards protecting their future, and keeping their identity secure.

Secure Your Future With ID Protect Options

Though it may not be discussed as frequently as other hot topic issues within the media today, identity theft and credit fraud continue to be some of the most significant threats in the world, particularly in association with finances. Although various methods of defense do exist, when searching for ID protect service it's worth recognizing that there is no sure way of preventing identity theft from happening to you entirely. The best thing that you can do is make use of the available tools and advice that could help to reduce your risks.

Considering Identity Theft

It's important to be aware of the impact that this kind of theft can have on your life. Many people don't even bother thinking about ID protection services, because they mistakenly believe that such a fraudulent crime will never happen to them. Some consumers are convinced that it is only gullible people and those who don't know how to use protective internet services who fall victim to such scams, but this is not the case.

Anyone, no matter who they are or where they are located can fall victim to the damage that identity theft may cause. Once you have become a victim, you may find that it is difficult to repair the destruction done to your credit, meaning that you will struggle to get your hands on the loans you need to fund your future, or a mortgage you so desperately wanted. With that in mind, it can be easier to see why services that protect ID are so important.

How to Defend Yourself

One of the best ways to help protect yourself from identity fraud, and reduce the risks associated with this fraudulent crime, is to use a credit monitoring service. By regular monitoring of your credit data, you can increase your chances of spotting potential theft before the problem becomes too large. Credit monitoring gives you regular access to your credit report information. And, perhaps, even more important is that such companies are experienced with regards to this type of crime, so they'll monitor for certain changes that occur in your data and if these are found, they will send you an alert. This will allow you to act as early as possible in thwarting potentially criminal activities.

Using A Credit Monitor For Identity Fraud Protection

Though the issue of identity theft is not covered in the media as frequently as it may have been in the past, it continues to impact a huge number of people around the world, leading to financial turmoil and long-lasting problems. Regardless of who you are, or where you live, you are vulnerable to credit fraud or identity theft, unless you know how to monitor credit data and look after your identity. No matter where you go, chances are that you'll be able to find a story about someone who suffered as a victim of this type of crime. Unfortunately, though you may be honest with your work and cash, not everyone is the same, and there are plenty of criminals willing to take your money without a second thought.

Fortunately, although credit and identity fraud can't be completely prevented, it is possible to reduce your risks and help to protect yourself against the impact of such a crime, if you know how to use a credit monitor service.

Finding The Right Defense

To a certain extent, protecting yourself against the risks associated with identity theft can be as simple as ensuring you are more cautious in your everyday life. For example, you should never give personal or sensitive information out over the phone or through an email conversation. And you should take care to shred any personal documents that you may receive through the mail before disposing of them. At the same time it is always useful to be cautious about the way you use your credit and debit cards in public, by covering your PIN during transactions and when using ATMs.

But in addition to common sense forms of protection, you may need to access a more specialized service that monitors credit information.

What Do Credit Monitors Do?

With an automatic credit monitor your credit report data is monitored on a regular basis for certain activity going on in your accounts. When these changes are detected, they will send you an alert so that you can act promptly to protect yourself, for example, by canceling those credit accounts that have been opened.

How You Can Benefit From Fraud Protection Services

You can never be too careful with your personal information.

The reality is that millions of consumers are victims of identity theft every year. Attackers can use your information in a number of ways from making large purchases with a new credit card to opening new accounts in your name. Both of which can negatively affect your credit score or even prevent you from applying for a loan.

It is critically important to take preemptive measures to protect your identity. The good news is there are fraud protection services available that can help do exactly that. The following is how you can benefit from these services and what you can expect.

Credit MonitoringFraud protection offers a number of features you cannot get anywhere else. One feature is monitoring your credit data from the major bureaus. If certain types of activity are detected, you receive a prompt alert so you can take immediate action. This might involve contacting the credit issuers to close a fraudulent account or filing a report with the local police.

Many of the services also provide regular updates of your credit score. This feature is useful especially if you are applying for a mortgage or other credit in the near future.

Security Software ToolsKeeping your computer secure is absolutely important. Many identity thieves use sophisticated software and other sly tricks to access sensitive information stored on personal devices. With a fraud protection service, you can expect to receive a number of security software tools to install on your computer. These include antivirus software, password protection, and even keystroke encryption.

Personal Recovery AssistanceAnother benefit of fraud protection services is the personal recovery assistance that you get. If your identity is ever stolen, you receive personal guidance on the next steps to take with your credit issuers and the local police. This is particularly useful to help recover your identity and minimize certain financial damage. Many services now also offer identity theft insurance to cover any expenses that occur from identity theft.

These are some of the many benefits that you can expect with an identity theft protection service.

Social Security Identity Theft--Monitor your Identity

Your social security number is the most important piece of identifying information you have if you live in the United States.  At one time, it was used only for employment purposes.  Now, it is used for everything from college admission to professional licensing.  Social security identity theft is a real and growing problem, along with all types of identity theft.  So, what can you do to try and prevent social security theft?

1. First, you will want to take good care of your actual social security card.  Not only could it cause a lot of problems if it fell into the wrong hands, but it is also a lot of trouble to replace.  Do not carry your social security card with you on a daily basis.  Your driver's license is generally enough for your daily needs to identify yourself.
2. Second, be careful who has access to your social security number and also those of your family members.  You may be surprised to learn that around a third of all identity thefts are committed by a known person like a family member or close friend.  It is also surprising to learn that children are frequent targets of these kinds of identity thieves.  That is because they have "clean" identities with no credit history, employment history, marriages, divorces, bankruptcies and so forth.
3. Last, consider using an identity monitoring service to help you protect your social security number and other valuable personal information.  Identity Guard® is an excellent identity monitoring service that will help to avoid social security number identity theft.  The Identity Guard Total Protection® service will monitor the internet continuously to see if your social security number or any other sensitive personal information is turning up on black market websites, secret chat rooms or underground forums.  If certain activity is detected, you will receive a prompt notification.  With Identity Guard, you can always choose how you will be notified--by email, text message or via a convenient mobile application that can be downloaded to your device.  Check out Identity Guard for all of your identity monitoring needs.

Identity Theft Protection Reviews

What is really important to customers when it comes to identity theft protection reviews?  

Here are some of the things that people who use these services have noted in reviews of identity theft protection companies:

• Customers want to receive regular credit score updates. Some people are not aware that they have not just one credit score, but credit scores from three major reporting bureaus.  In addition to providing credit score updates and credit reports on at least a quarterly basis, it is extremely important that services for credit monitoring provide this information from all three bureaus, not just one.

• Timely updates are a must.  Receiving reports at certain intervals is extremely useful when there are no outstanding issues with your personal information.  If there is a problem, it is imperative to be notified promptly.  The convenience of this notification is also a big factor.  It is important to customers to be able to choose how they would like to be notified--by email or text message.

• There is more to identity theft protection than just credit monitoring.  A comprehensive identity theft protection service will offer you identity monitoring. This includes Social Security number monitoring; monitoring the Internet to see if personal information is detected on black market websites, secret chat rooms and underground forums; account takeover alerts; and other sophisticated data monitoring to keep your identity safe. 

• Online identity protection is important.  Customers want software products that will protect them from viruses and malware.  Optimum online security will include a different passwords and login credential for each website you use.  This is a lot of information to remember, so it is good to have a place to store your valuable login information. That's where a password manager can help by storing all of your passwords in one secure "lock box."

How to Protect Your Credit From Identity Thieves

Money is essential to many parts of life, but it is not always guaranteed. People grow up learning that money has to come from somewhere, and that “somewhere” is often working to make a living. Unfortunately, there are people out there that don’t want to work for what they make, and so they choose other methods of obtaining money... Like committing identity theft and stealing from those that truly work for their wages.

With more people choosing to use credit and debit cards to make purchases via mobile devices, there are an increased number of chances for your identity to get stolen. As this use is sometimes unavoidable, you should choose some form of protection just to ensure that even if you’re taking part in this type of transaction, you’re a little safer. To help protect your credit, you could consider a credit monitoring service. This type of service monitors your credit information at the credit reporting bureaus. They monitor for certain types of activity - applications for credit or address changes, for example - and send you prompt notifications when detected. This gives you a chance to either confirm the activity as your own, or investigate and take action if not.

Knowing how to protect your credit is the hardest part of the process, because not everyone knows what they are getting into - or what their options are. Educating yourself about the different programs, services and decisions that you can make will help you in the future, as it can be a way to protect your credit from people that want to misuse it. This type of protection is enough to help many people feel a lot more comfortable with what their account status is, the security of their information, and the ways that things look when compiled over time. Not only will a credit monitor alert you to potential misuse, but it will provide a history of your accounts, giving you things to look for in the future - and a way to see whether or not the accounts are compromised in any way.

Combatting Credit Card Theft

You may love the ease of convenience of paying with plastic, but identity thieves love it even more.  After all, they are using someone else’s money and have no intention of worrying about the bills that will soon be rolling in.  You don’t need to cut up all of your credit cards and start paying only with cash, but you do need to take steps to help protect yourself from credit card theft. One of those steps is to take steps to protect not only your credit cards, but consider using identity theft protection for a holistic approach.



One way to protect yourself from credit card theft is to examine readers before you insert your card.  Gas pumps and ATMs can be altered using devices called skimmers to store your card information so that it can be used to make purchases or to create a counterfeit card.  Companies are trying to fight this kind of theft.  Have you noticed many gas pumps lately have security stickers fixed on the credit card units?  They are easy to miss, but keep an eye out for them the next time you fill up your gas tank.  They are there to help prevent the card reader from being tampered with.  If you ever see one of these labels that has been broken or that reads “VOID,” do not use that gas pump.



Skimmers can also be handheld.  While I am sure that most restaurant employees are honest, there have been many credit card theft cases of waiters collecting customers’ credit card information when they walk away with the cards.  Consider using cash in restaurants.



Identity theft credit card can also happen online.  Only give your payment information when you are on a reputable website and a secure connection.  Never shop (or log into any personal accounts) when you are using free public wi-fi.  Criminals can use these connections to steal information that you send and receive.  If you are unsure about a site, do some research before you enter any payment information.  Often, retail sites will ask you to create an account and save your payment information.  Make sure that you choose a secure password because it is likely that all anyone will need to do in the future is log in if they want to make additional purchases.

For more tips on how you can help prevent identity and credit theft, visit www.identityguard.com.

Avoiding Credit Card Identity Theft During the Holidays

You may already be checking names off on your gift list, but while you are racing around the mall or shopping online, make sure that you are not being careless with your identity.  More shopping means more opportunities for thieves to commit credit and identity theft, and you should be taking these protective steps:

Clean out your wallet.  Only carry one credit card at a time.  Never carry your passport or social security card in your wallet.  Carrying too much in your wallet can increase your chances of credit theft.  Also, carry your purse under your arm or keep your wallet in your front pocket to avoid pickpockets.

Keep an eye on your cards.  Card skimming often occurs when you have to hand your card to someone.  Keep an eye on what they do with it and how long they keep it.  It is also a good idea to write “check photo ID” on the back of your card so if the card were to be stolen, hopefully it will remind cashiers to ask for identification.  If they do not ask, remind them to so hopefully they can start to get in the habit of looking at the card.  After I got married, I continued to use a card that had my maiden name on it for almost a year.  The card said to check ID on the back, but even when the cashiers did ask to see ID, not once did they say anything about the last names on the card and my ID being different.  As more people are writing “check ID” on their cards, I hope cashiers are becoming more vigilant so they can help prevent credit theft.

Designate a card for online purchases.  Have one card that you use only for online purchases.  This way if there are fraudulent charges, they will be easier to identify.

Shop on recognized sites.  Those sites that you have never heard of that claim to have once in a lifetime deals are so tempting – but they can also be scams.  Try to stick to reputable sites to avoid credit theft.  If you are unfamiliar with a site, do some research before you make a purchase.  Be especially wary if the site is missing any one of the following: a phone number, a privacy policy, or a return policy.

Identity Monitor Useful as Theft Becomes More Common

Identity theft is known as the fastest growing crime in America.  It occurs when someone uses another person’s personal information for their own gain.   Anyone can be a victim – age, race and income don’t matter to an identity thief.  Anyone who is concerned about their financial future should help protect themselves with an identity monitor.

Why has identity theft become so common?

It is easy to pull off.  A name, birthday, credit card number or social security number are all a thief needs to get started.  These can be obtained countless numbers of ways, from high tech mass data breaches to stealing mail and wallets.  Once they have the information, all they need is a phone and a cheap computer to get started.

It is very profitable.  Identity theft gives a criminal access not only to your financial accounts, but also to your ability to borrow and spend.  Because they are not going to be concerned with keeping current with their credit, they can just take and take.

There is little that law enforcement can do.  Technology enables the identity thief to operate behind a keyboard nowhere near their victims.  Because the crime is perpetrated from a distance and usually has multiple components, it is often difficult for law enforcement to investigate.

What can you do?

You cannot prevent identity theft completely, so your best defense is to detect identity theft as soon as possible.  When someone commits identity theft, it often results in changes to your public records and credit report.  Identity monitoring services protect you by monitoring for certain changes and promptly alerting you.  You can check your credit report yourself for free from each of the three credit bureaus once per year, but doing that alone leaves you vulnerable between checks.  The best identity monitoring services will check your credit report year-round from all three credit bureaus.  When they alert you to a change, if it appears to be fraudulent they will also help advise you on what to do next.  Cleaning up your credit report can be a long, complicated process, so their help can be very valuable.

Theft Identity: Keep Your Info to Yourself

You have probably heard a lot about identity theft, but do you know how to protect yourself?  Identity theft occurs when someone uses another’s personal information for their own gain.  This information can include name, social security number, credit or debit card number, birthday, driver’s license number, or bank account number.  Because theft identity requires a bit of personal information to get the thief started, the logical first step is to protect your personal information to make it less likely that it will fall into the wrong hands.

Only give your social security number when absolutely necessary.  

Just because a form asks for your social security number does not mean that you have to give it away.  There are some organizations that have the right to demand your social security number – your employer, the motor vehicle department or welfare departments, for example – most places do not.  When asked for a social security number, too many people just rattle it off without really thinking about it.  Remember that the more people and places that have your social security number, the more likely it is that it will be compromised.  Before you give it away, ask why it is needed and what it will be used for.  Often, another number will do.

Don’t carry more than you need.  

Only carry credit cards that you actually plan on using.  To help protect yourself from identity theft, never carry your social security card in your wallet.  Leave it at home in a secure location.  If your wallet were to get lost or stolen, you have to cancel every single credit card that was in that wallet, and you cannot cancel your social security number.

Invest in a shredder.  

There are many high-tech ways to steal personal information for identity theft, but that doesn’t mean that criminals have given up on dumpster diving.  Shred any documents or papers that contain any personal information before you throw them away.

Monitor your credit report.  

One of the most effective ways to identify if you have been a victim of identity theft is to check your credit report.  Look for anything suspicious such as accounts that you don’t recognize, inquiries from companies that you don’t know, or inaccuracies in your basic information.

Identity Protection in Today's World

How to protect your identity is one of the most important questions that you can be asking yourself.  Last year, approximately 14 million people were victims of identity theft.  There are so many things to know about this topic.  Most of us are aware that there are big time identity criminals out there, especially those using automated processes on the internet.  Additionally, though, there are small time, opportunistic identity thieves who are just waiting for you to drop your wallet or leave your ATM card in the automatic teller.  Perhaps most surprisingly, about a third of people who have their identities stolen are victims of friends or family who have easy access to valuable personal information.  Children can be surprising, but especially attractive targets for these last kinds of thieves because their records appear "clean".

You may be asking, "How can I protect my identity?" when there are so many cases of theft every year, and so many types of identity criminals.  Some of the first steps are really simple.  Keep your important personal documents such as your social security card, birth certificate and passport locked up so that they are not easily accessible to opportunistic criminals who may or may not be friends of family members.

It is also important that you know how to protect your identity on a larger scale.  This might mean keeping track of your credit score and periodically ordering copies of your credit report.  But, did you know, there are three major credit reporting bureaus that keep track of this information?  It would take a lot of time to continually monitor those scores and review those reports.

If you are wondering how to more efficiently protect from identity theft, you are probably a good candidate for Identity Guard®.  Identity Guard provides ongoing monitoring of not only your credit reports, but of your identity by looking for any certain activity of your valuable personal information.  With Identity Guard, you will receive not only quarterly credit scores and reports from the three major bureaus, but ongoing alerts whenever certain activities are detected. These reports and timely alerts may help you to take action to protect your identity before the damage escalates to something that could take months of your time and hundreds of dollars to correct.

How to Get Free Identity Theft Protection

Identity theft is a serious problem and occurs when someone uses your personal information to commit fraud. Research indicates that millions of consumers are victims of identity theft every single year. Data shows that the numbers are only expected to increase.

Identity thieves typically use personal information to open accounts in other names. The results can be absolutely devastating and can easily take months or years to recover from. The good news is there are ways to get identity theft protection on your own.

The following are free measures you can take to protect against identity theft.

Monitor Your Bank StatementsConsumers can easily check their bank statements online. Be sure to do so regularly so you know exactly how much is coming in and how much is going out. Purchases from unfamiliar companies are typically indications of identity theft. Contact your bank immediately if you notice anything suspicious.

Monitor Your Credit ReportConsumers are legally entitled by law to receive a free copy of their credit report every year from each of the three credit bureaus. What you can do is request one every four months to spread out the number of times you request your reports. Look for any unfamiliar activity such as new accounts or lines of credit that you didn't open. Monitoring your credit report provides protection from identity theft but you will need to contact credit issuers directly for any fraudulent activity.

Protect Your Information OnlineMany of us now do most of our shopping online. But your personal information is still vulnerable to theft. Always use a secure network when making purchases online or when logging into a bank account. Make sure to also clear usernames and passwords especially from a public computer. Another recommendation is to pay with purchases online using a credit card as there is much better fraud protection in place.

Place a Security FreezeA more drastic measure to take that is highly effective to protect against identity theft is to place a security freeze. This prevents anyone from accessing your credit report and extending any form of credit in your name. The fees to place a security freeze depend on your location, but are usually waived if you are already a victim of identity theft. 

Identity Theft - What You Need To Know To Stay Safe

What do you think of when someone says that they have had their identity stolen?  If you are like most people, you immediately assume that a criminal has gotten some of their actual credit cards and used them to make unauthorized purchases.  If you are someone who uses your personal computer or mobile device for a lot of transactions, you may even think that some malware that stole a credit card number from an online transaction.  While these are excellent examples of what can happen when someone steals specific financial information, they are only the tip of the iceberg with regard to what can happen when your entire identity is stolen.

If you become a victim of identity theft, your credit history and credit score are important concerns.  But, there is a lot more on the line.  A criminal who is able to access your birth date, social security number and address can essentially assume your entire identity for a number of purposes that might not immediately come to mind.  They might obtain identification in your name and use that identification if they are arrested for a crime.  An undocumented person could potentially use such identification to pose as a citizen, gain employment, or receive healthcare under your identity.  An identity thief could even get married using your name and information.  The possibilities are almost endless.  The amount of work that you might have to do to clean up a mess like this is mind boggling.

There are a few things you can do to keep your identity safe.  Be very careful what sensitive information you share with others over the phone and online.  Sometimes, a thief will send out what are known as phishing emails.  These emails may look like they come from your bank or your phone company.  Don't respond to these emails if they request sensitive information like your password or social security number.  Contact the company directly to find out if they actually need to talk to you.  Reputable companies will almost never ask for your passwords in any context.  

Keep your sensitive documents secure.  Lock up your birth certificate and social security card when they are not being used.  Secure your online information by using anti virus and anti malware software on your personal computer.  Use strong passwords make up of a combinations of upper case letters, lower case letters, numbers and symbols.  While it is impossible to keep your identity completely safe all of the time, Identity Guard® can provide you will tools and support to greatly increase your security and peace of mind. 

Protect Your Identity With Identity Theft Protection Services

Identity theft continues to be a major problem.

Anytime you make a transaction online or even at a store, your identity is at risk. Identity thieves use sophisticated means to extract sensitive information such as account details. Combined with other information, attackers can open accounts in your name and cause significant damage to your credit.

Recovering from identity theft can take several years and is extremely costly. Here is how consumers can benefit greatly from identity theft protection services.

Credit Monitoring

Checking your credit report and bank statements regularly is a good idea as it can reveal signs of suspicious activity. Identity protection services offer credit monitoring and provide alerts of certain changes. This allows you to stay on top of your credit.

Identity Monitoring

Your information could be used right now without even knowing it. Theft protection services also offer identity and public record monitoring to better protect from identity theft. This means that your information is actively monitored and you get alerts for certain types of activity.

Software Tools

Identity thieves are able to extract reams of data from unsuspecting victims. Which is why keeping your computer safe with antivirus and firewall protection is essential. Identity theft protection offers software tools to keep your device protected.

Recovery Assistance

No matter how many precautions you take, you can still be a victim of identity theft.

Identity protection offers personal recovery assistance. In the event your identity is compromised, you need to take immediate action. Having an expert guide you and advise on the next steps ensures that nothing is left to chance. So you can get your identity back and recover from all damages.

These days you need to be extra careful with your information.

Otherwise you could be a victim of identity theft. Identity theft protection services help you stay on top of your credit and provide a suite of tools to keep your computer protected. But perhaps the biggest benefit is the personal recovery assistance so you know exactly what to do. These services provide incredible value and are well worth the cost.

Should I Choose a Credit Monitoring Service?

Without a doubt, services like credit and identity monitors are huge assets to people that are looking for increased protection of the information that means the most to them. Financial and personally identifiable information  are often used by thieves as a way to take what does not belong to them. By choosing to use a service like this, you'll be able to have a more firm understanding of exactly what is happening within your accounts even if you don't check them often - or cannot search through each one on a regular basis. 

Credit monitors are used by people that are looking for an extra layer of safety of their information and finances. While this type of service cannot (and does not) guarantee you'll never become a victim, it alerts users to their potential presence and allows them to take action. By alerting you to certain activity, you can either confirm the action was yours or investigate further if you suspect something else is going on. Unfortunately, in cases of identity theft, victims often don't discover that anything is wrong until it is too late, and then it can take months or years to fully recover. A credit monitor will help to shorten the time between unjust access by thieves and discovery by users, which is an asset in fighting identity theft - and decreasing the amount of financial distress that people experience.

Services monitoring credit are useful because they provide valuable information and ensure that there is an extra set of "eyes" on accounts at all times. As computer services, they never take breaks, they never get tired, and they are able to scan through large amounts of information in very little time. In past cases where people were victimized by thieves, time was important, meaning that knowing something quickly made a great deal of difference in the outcome of situations. Credit monitoring has grown in popularity over the last few years due to the prevalence of this type of theft, and the companies that offer their services in this manner have created products that they stand behind, and are continually improving in order to stay current with the latest tactics used by thieves.

Why is Credit Fraud Protection Important?

Many of the activities people take part in today are done electronically with credit and debit cards. Each time we use our information online, we are exposing ourselves to risk - many sites have safety precautions in place to keep information from falling into the wrong hands, but it can still happen. Identity thieves are skilled at what they do, making it very important to have some sort of protection from credit fraud in place, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem. This type of protection is available in many forms - from services provided for a fee by companies to simply changing Internet habits; what you choose will depend on your individual situation.

Some fraud protection come with a safety feature already installed. Credit card companies will track your spending, and when a suspicious purchase or amount is noticed, they will place a hold on the account and contact you directly to confirm or deny the use. This is a rare occurrence, and you should know from the get go whether or not your particular card provider offers this service.

Your information is your identity, and having it compromised is a surefire way to put a kink into even the best laid plans. Having a credit monitor is a different kind of credit fraud protection, but it is also extremely useful. This type of service keeps an eye on all your personal and financial information, not a specific card. Knowing what is happening across the board will keep you just a little bit ahead of some of the nastiest surprises and cases of fraud.

As thieves rely on the ignorance of their victims, it's important to assess your own tendencies and habits in order to keep yourself from falling prey to any type of credit or identity theft. Protection from credit fraud can be the result of something as simple as changing passwords, only using secure sites and ensuring that no one else knows your information.

No one wants to be a victim, but it is up to you to take control of your situation and keep yourself safe by any means necessary.

Know how to Protect your Identity

Did you know that identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the U.S. today?  Given that around 14 million people had their identities stolen last year, you may be wondering, "How do I protect my identity?"   Here are a few helpful tips on to how to protect your identity:

Be careful in using technology.  

Almost everyone uses a personal computer these days, sometimes more than one.  Do not provide sensitive personal information in unsolicited emails, even if they appear to come from a company you know and trust.  Do not subscribe to web pages that require you to input your credit card number or social security number to gain access, and avoid clicking on third party links (links within links).  If you must submit sensitive personal information electronically, never do it over a public WIFI connection.

Take care of your credit cards.

Always know with which companies you have accounts open, and keep the actual cards and their accompanying information in a safe place.  There is no reason to carry every credit card you have every day.  This just creates a mess of plastic in your wallet or purse and makes it more likely that you will not miss a card if it falls on the floor or you inadvertently leave is somewhere.  Carry only the card you plan to use for the day.

Be aware of common scams.
One of the newer scams that has been developed as technology has become more sophisticated is called "skimming".  A skimmer is a device that is placed on a credit card reader that electronically steals your data.  Skimmers are sometimes even placed in ATM machines.  Though it may be impossible to avoid all skimming devices, you can reduce the chances of having your information stolen in this way by not using automated, unmanned card readers.  Go inside the gas station to pay instead of using the card reader at the pump.  If possible, have a live teller complete your banking transaction instead of using an ATM machine.

Now you know a little bit more about how to protect your identity.  Identity Guard® is an excellent company to contact the next time you are asking, "How do I protect my identity?"

4 Reasons Why Identity Monitor Services Are Essential

You can never be too careful with your personal information.

Data from Javelin Strategy & Research estimates that 12.7 million consumers in the US were victims of identity theft in 2014. No matter how careful you are with your information, you can still have your identity stolen. And the impact can be absolutely devastating on your credit.

The following are four reasons why identity monitor services are essential.

1. Credit Score Monitoring
Identity thieves can use your information to make large purchases or open new accounts in your name. Which is why reviewing your credit report regularly is important to look for any suspicious activity. Otherwise you could be a victim of identity theft without even realizing it.

Identity theft protection services offer comprehensive credit monitoring and provide alerts for certain types of activity. You can also be able to view your credit report.

2. Public Record Monitoring
Do you know how your information is being used?

Identity monitor services also offer public record monitoring. You receive reports and updates if any of your information is being used without your knowledge. This is particularly helpful to detect identity theft.

3. Timely Alerts
Dealing with identity theft can be extremely time consuming. But it needs to be handled immediately before it becomes a larger issue later on. Identity protection services offer prompt alerts for certain changes.

This allows you to take immediate action such as freezing your credit or contacting the credit issuer directly. Doing so prevent anyone from opening accounts in your name.

4. Personal Assistance
Your identity can still be compromised.

If your identity ever gets stolen, you need to take immediate recovery steps. But the process can be rather confusing. Identity monitoring services offer personal recovery assistance and guidance on what to do to recover your identity. This is particularly beneficial as it greatly increases the chances of getting back what you may have lost.

Identity protection services offer a greater sense of security and are well worth the cost. These are the benefits you can expect when you sign up for identity monitoring.