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Articles » Free Annual Credit Report | | Protect Your Credit from Fraudulent Activities |
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The development of the Internet and the demand by marketing companies for personal histories and demographics have created a need for constant vigilance by consumers. Each time you do business either on line or in person, you are asked to release personal information that could be used to steal your identity or affect your credit rating in an adverse way. There are steps that you can take to avoid these occurrences and it is important that you follow them in order to maintain a good credit rating .
First off, be careful who you do business with, particularly on line. The forms that many people fill out on the internet contain sensitive information that could be used for identity theft or credit fraud. Social security numbers, addresses, employment histories and lists of bank accounts or assets can be valuable tools to dishonest people out there looking to perpetrate a scam. Make sure that when you do business with any of these sites that you know who they are and where your information is going.
There are security features that you can install on your computer to ensure that your information is not harvested and sold. Anti-virus software is important and so are site security tools provided by your internet provider. There are certain viruses, like the Trojan Horse virus, that will collect personal data which can be used for activities that could damage your credit.
Regardless of all the precautions in our capability, though, keeping our personal information safe is sometimes beyond our control, especially when we are not the source of information leakage. For example, if somebody hacks into your bank’s database, there is nothing in your power that could’ve kept you immune from your information getting in the wrong hands. This is when having services such as LifeLock identity theft protection can help keep you safe even if your personal information gets out. If, on the other hand, you have knowledge of your personal information getting out and you would like to keep anyone from obtaining new credit under your name, you can put a freeze on your credit while the proper investigations are being carried out.
Another good piece of advice here is to be careful who you give your information to in person. When you go out to make a purchase, make sure that you make a final decision on what you want before you fill out any paperwork. Don't just have the salesman or broker run your credit history to determine if you can afford something. You should have a good idea of that before you walk in the door. Multiple credit inquiries look bad on your credit report and could hamper your ability to get a loan or mortgage.
Keep a close eye on your credit report and check all changes when they happen for accuracy. You should make it a general practice to get copies of your credit report regularly, at least once a year, from each of the three credit reporting bureaus. Fraudulent activities can be detected early if you pay attention and monitor your credit report regularly.
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