While having credit cards may be convenient and useful for building credit (if used correctly), owning too many can be harmful. Having too many can actually increase the risk of becoming an identity theft victim. Credit card companies are in business for profit. Since they make their money collecting interest, it only makes sense that they would want to issue as many cards as they can. Hence, you receive dozens of credit card offers per month. It is quite simple for anyone with your personal information to request a card in your name.
Protect yourself by:
· Monitoring your mailbox so that no one can swipe those applications and by shredding the applications as soon as you receive them.
· You can also join a program similar to the “Do Not Call” list. It is a “Do Not Send Me Junk Mail” list.
o Call me to find out about this…
· Do not give out your personal information over the telephone.
· Finally, once a credit card arrives, do not sign it. Instead, put “see ID” on the back of it so that someone must look at your driver’s license.
Other ways to protect yourself against Identity Theft:
· When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the "For" line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have access to it.
· Try to mail your bills from the post office or from an official drop box. That way no one can steal your checks from your mail box and use them.
· Finally, if possible pay your bills securely online.
To get more quick and easy safety tips call me. I will give you a FREE copy of my Identity Theft Prevention and Response Manual, or visit BayAreaHomeBuyersInfo.com
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