General 09 May 2008
Affordable Identity Theft Protection
A recent news interview with Lieutenant Scott Beckman of the Wyoming, Michigan Police Department was very revealing about identity theft and your need to be protected. He is part of their Metropolitan Fraud and Identity Theft team. He says identity theft is a very real threat. According to him, "That is probably one of the most prevalent crimes out there right now." Beckman notes that the use of fraudulent checks is the most common crime his team covers but identity theft is growing every year. Some people have chosen to put a rider on their homeowner's insurance policy. The cost of these identity theft riders varies depending on the carrier of your policy, but can help defray the cost if your identity is ever compromised. Some other easy and affordable tips to protect yourself and your personal information, Check your credit report annually, Limit the personal information that you give out, Don't put your outgoing mail in a non-secure mailbox. Take it to the post office. Shred all documents with personal information or credit offers.