These days, fires,
floods and failing health aren't
the only dangers facing your finances.
Lowlifes and scam artists are always
on the prowl for unsuspecting victims.
And the schemes aren't always related
to online
shopping. Most scams and identity
thefts require nothing more than
smooth talkers, gullible targets
and the occasional mailbox raid.
If only investments would grow as
fast as identity theft has.
Identity thieves
don't need much to highjack your
identity. A key piece of paper
and they can open accounts in
your name, commit fraud and ruin
your credit score. The good news
is that fighting
back is getting easier. Watch
your credit reports and financial
accounts for unauthorized activity,
and be extremely careful about
handing out your Social Security
number.
If you suspect that you're the victim of identity theft,
you can freeze
your credit files, so you
can say who gets your credit reports
and score. Without that information,
businesses aren't as willing to
extend credit and the thieves
are shot down.
