Tips to survive the economic storm

Losing Your Identity

Identity Theft – One Minute Tip

The following money minute is brought to you by Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta. Turn on any television channel or pick up a newspaper and you are likely to see information about identity theft. According to the FBI, identify theft is the fastest growing white collar crime in the nation and is expected to increase over the next 10 years. Losing your identity can create havoc on your life. The key to minimizing the likelihood of being a victim of identity theft is acting proactively by applying important steps to protect you and your family.

Here are three things you can do to protect your identity:

First, do not share any sensitive information with anyone unless it is for legitimate business that you initiated. Protecting your social security number is similar to keeping watch over Fort Knox. Treat it like gold.

Second, register for security alerts with all three credit bureaus and your banking institution. You will be notified of any suspicious activity that is inconsistent with your normal patterns.

Third, shred important documents that you want to discard that may have your account numbers or other information that can be used against you if they end up in the wrong hands.

To learn how to minimize your risk of being a victim of identity theft take the course:

                                                “Identity Theft”