MInTheGap

By now I’m sure you’ve all heard of Identity Theft, but did you know that most times Identity Theft is done by someone you know?  Most of the time we get the image of some computer hacker catching our information across the web, but more people lose their identity through the trash and through household employees– and those credit card offers in the mail that we throw out– than on the Internet.

Fortunately, there are companies out there that will monitor your credit like lifelock.  What’s really impressive about them is that the CEO gives out his social security number right on the site– almost daring anyone to steal it!

So, how do they protect you?  Six ways:

1. They set up monitoring at the credit bureaus.
2. Every 90 days they ask the credit bureaus to do it again.
3. They request that your name be removed from all the mailing lists where you get those free credit card offers.
4. They order free credit reports that are sent to you.
5. They provide services in case your wallet is stolen.
6. They provide lawyers or whatever it takes to get your identity back– up to $1,000,000.

I’ve been a victim of identity theft with one of my credit cards– someone bought $5,000 worth of medical equipment that just showed up on a card I wasn’t using– so it could happen to anyone.  What are you doing to protect your good name?

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