Protecting Your Credit

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Summary: Your credit history is the single most important piece of information a lender will assess. And with identity theft on the rise, your credit history could be in danger. All someone needs to steal your identity is access to your social security number - which is everywhere. Here are some ways in which you keep your financial identity safe.

Anchor: This year, somewhere between 500,000 to 700,000 individuals will have their credit stolen. That works out to about one person each minute.

Anchor: Money and real estate expert Ilyce Glink is here with a few suggestions on protecting your identity.

GOOD MORNING

Ilyce: Your credit history is the single most important piece of information a lender will assess. And with identity theft on the rise, your credit history could be in danger. All someone needs to steal your identity is access to your social security number - which is everywhere. It's probably on your driver's license, on your medical information, and on your college ID. Here are some ways in which you keep your financial identity safe.

Protect Your Identity

1. CARRY ONLY THE CARDS YOU NEED

2. Sign your credit cards "CHECK ID"

3. Don't carry your social security number

4. NO PIN NUMBERS

5. Take care with receipts

6. Shred important documents

7. Check receipts against statements

8. Don't disclose personal information over the phone

9. Watch for your credit card statements

10. Frequently check your credit report

Ways to protect your credit:

myFICO.com Credit history and score for $12.95 Equifax Credit Watch $49.95

ILYCE: If someone does steal your identity you'll want to catch it quickly. There probably won't be a financial loss, but you could spend 6 months to a year trying to unwind the damage.

See more articles on this topic by clicking on the "RELATED ARTICLES" above and to the right.

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Related Topics

• credit, 
• credit history, 
• credit report, 
• identity theft, 
• social security

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