| LexisNexis, a provider of personal and financial data, | | | | the statements are valid. Report any suspicious activity |
| recently reported that the personal information of as | | | | immediately to your bank or creditor. |
| many as 310,000 people nationwide may have been | | | | 2) Monitor your credit report. The main reason for |
| stolen. This figure is nearly 10 times higher than the | | | | stealing your identity is to open new credit accounts to |
| original figure disclosed last month by the company. | | | | purchase good and services using your name and |
| ChoicePoint Inc., another consumer data collection | | | | stolen identity. Chances are that you won't know |
| service, stated 145,000 people in their database were | | | | you're an ID theft victim until you're denied credit or you |
| possibly exposed to identity thieves earlier this year. At | | | | receive bills for accounts you never opened. |
| DSW Shoe Warehouse, officials acknowledged stolen | | | | If an ID thief has opened accounts in your name, they |
| credit information at 103 of its 175 stores nationwide. | | | | are most likely to appear on your credit report. There |
| Hackers have also targeted databases at California | | | | are three major credit reporting agencies; Equifax, |
| State University as well as the University of California, | | | | TransUnion, and Experian. |
| San Diego. | | | | New legislation allows you to obtain your credit report |
| Many consumers now fear that using the internet puts | | | | annually from all three of these agencies for free. This |
| them at a higher risk of identity theft. However, | | | | new program is being phased in gradually across the |
| surveys have shown that only 10 percent of known | | | | U.S.. Check to see when your state becomes active in |
| identity theft cases have resulted from online fraud. | | | | this program. |
| Dumpster diving along with phone scams account for | | | | 3) Use credit monitoring services. A variety of paid |
| far more ID theft than the internet. | | | | services are available that will monitor your credit |
| In fact you can use the internet to help protect | | | | reports for activity and alert you to any changes. As |
| yourself from this crime in three unique ways: | | | | with any product or service, make sure you |
| 1) View your banking and credit accounts online. | | | | understand what you're getting before you buy. You |
| Almost all banks and credit card companies have | | | | can enjoy a free 30-day trial of CreditCheck(R) |
| secure web sites that allow you to view your | | | | monitoring service and get a free copy of your |
| statements and activity safely online. Secure sites are | | | | Experian credit report by visiting This monitoring |
| those that begin with https// or display a padlock icon | | | | service checks your credit report daily to notify you |
| on your computer screen. | | | | about fraudulent activity, new inquiries, new accounts, |
| NEVER access a financial site through a link | | | | late payments, and more so you can spot possible |
| embedded in an e-mail message. E-mails with links | | | | signs of identity theft. After the free 30-day trial, you |
| asking you to verify or re-register your personal | | | | will be billed $9.95 monthly unless you cancel the |
| information are a sure sign of "phishing", a scam to | | | | service. |
| collect your name and other identifying information to | | | | If you become a victim of ID theft, your opportunity for |
| steal your identity. | | | | loans, jobs, or even housing could be affected. Taking |
| Instead, type the bank or creditor's website address | | | | immediate action after being victimized can minimize |
| into your browser. Check your accounts every two | | | | the damage. |
| weeks. Verify that the credits and debits shown on | | | | |