Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft
Part 10
by Michelle Black

Thanks very much for “tuning in” today for our 10^th and final tip regarding identity theft prevention.  I hope that you have enjoyed this blog series as much as I have enjoyed writing it.  By following today’s tip and all 9 previous tips outlined in this series you can drastically reduce your chances of being victimized by ID thieves.

#10:  Take Your Name Off Promotional Lists.

When taking strides to reduce your risk of identity theft, it is definitely a good idea to opt out of pre-approved and promotional offers. Remember, in part 3 of this blog series where I wrote about “dumpster divers?” Dumpster divers are thieves who steal personal information right out of your trash can. It is very easy for a thief to steal a pre-approved credit card offer that was sent to you (especially if the document is thrown into the trash without being properly shredded) and apply for an account in your name with a new address. Nearly half (43%) of all identity fraud originates from stolen wallets and/or stolen paperwork. By removing yourself from these promotional mailing lists you can avoid this risk all together. Thankfully, it is pretty simple to have yourself removed from these lists. Just visit www.optoutprescreen.com to get started.

At HOPE we know that being a victim of identity fraud is a nightmare. Once a fraudulent account appears on your credit report it can been almost impossible to see it removed without having to pay for the account out of your own pocket unless professional assistance is used.  In fact, 70% of ID theft victims have difficulty removing the fraudulent information that resulted from ID theft from their credit reports (ITRC Aftermath Study).  If you have been a victim of ID theft (or you suspect that you have been a victim of ID theft) then we invite you to give our team of credit experts a call.  You can schedule a no-obligation credit analysis appointment with HOPE to see how much damage has been done to your credit report and what it will take to help you turn the situation around. For more information or to schedule your appointment please call 704-499-9696.  We would love to help you kick identity theft issues or any other credit issues you may be facing to the curb!

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Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft
Part 9
by Michelle Black

As I begin to wind down this informative blog series (just 1 more tip to go!) I would like to share one of the more alarming statistics I came across during my research. According to the ITRC Aftermath Study, over 43% of identity theft victims know the person who stole their identity! Unsurprisingly, it is not uncommon for a child to steal a parent’s identity to open utilities accounts, apply for credit cards or other loans, or even use a parent’s already established credit card or checking account to make unauthorized purchases.  However, believe it or not, it is also a very common phenomenon for parents to steal the identities of their children, especially in the case of underage minors with clean or un-established credit reports. Roommates are another common source of identity theft.

Since credit card theft makes up a whopping 26% of identity theft here is another tip to help you:

#9:  Monitor Your Statements Every Month.

It is extremely important to monitor all of your bank statements and credit card statements every single month.  You should read through your statements, line by line, to check for any unauthorized or suspicious charges.  If you find anything that looks “fishy” you can contact your bank or credit card company directly to investigate the charges further.  This proactive step could potentially help to keep you from paying someone else’s bill!

Be sure to check back this week for my final tip on how to avoid identity fraud.  If you haven’t done so already, please check out parts 1-8 of the Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft blog series.  Learning the tactics used by identity thieves can help you to protect yourself from becoming victimized!  Have you already become a victim of identity theft?  HOPE is here to help! Please give us a call at 704-499-9696 to learn how the HOPE Program can help you to reclaim your good name.  No credit problem is too big!

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Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft
Part 8
by Michelle Black

Did you know that 1 in 10 US consumers has already been victimized by identity fraud?   In fact, studies have shown that those households with incomes higher than $70,000 were twice as likely to experience identity theft as those with salaries under $50,000 (U.S. DOJ, 2005). Those are some disturbing statistics. However, the good news is that there are many ways you can protect yourself from becoming another victim to this rapidly growing crime. Check out today’s tip for avoiding identity theft:

#8:  Don’t Carry Unnecessary Personal Documents in Your Wallet or Purse.

Empty your wallet of all extra credit cards and social security numbers. Do not carry any unnecessary forms of identification. It is also very important NOT to carry your birth certificate, social security card, marriage license, military ID, or passport, unless necessary.  Not having these items in your purse or wallet will make it harder for identity thieves to steal sensitive personal information from you.  You definitely do not want to make it any easier for thieves to target you!

There are still a few more great tips to come on how to protect yourself and your family from identity theft! Please check back in with us next week.  Remember, if you find today’s tip to be helpful, please be sure to share it with your online friends with our easy to use “share” buttons below.  The #1 way we can reduce identity theft is by increasing awareness.  Thanks for your help spreading the word!

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Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft
Part 7
by Michelle Black

Thanks for checking in again today for our latest identity theft prevention tip.  If you have not done so already, we would love for you to take the time to review parts 1 – 6 of this empowering blog series. The most effective way to combat identity theft is to be aware of the practices employed by scam artists and identity thieves.  Knowing what to do and what not to do in advance could save you a lot of heartache and help to avoid identity fraud before it has a chance to affect you!  Here is our next tip:

#7:  Don’t Put Checks in Your Mailbox.

Even if this sounds like overkill to you, it is strongly advised that you do not put checks in the mail from your home mailbox. Drop them off at a U.S. Mailbox or the U.S. Post Office. Mail theft is common. It is easy. All that a thief needs to do is steal your check (rent check, power bill check, cell phone bill check, etc.) and change the name of the recipient on the check with an acid wash. You can also pay your bills online via a secure website to further protect yourself from this type of fraud.

Shockingly, there are around 10 million victims of identity theft in the United States every single year! Following today’s tip, and previous tips from our Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft blog series will help you to drastically reduce you chances of being numbered among those victims. Don’t forget to check back with us soon for more tips and hints you can use to combat identity thieves.

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The HOPE staff would like to congratulate Mr. Melendez of Charlotte, NC today for his recent success and credit report improvement!  Since joining HOPE, Mr. Melendez has seen his credit scores go from zero on all 3 credit bureaus up to the 600s with all 3 credit bureaus! To top off this great success he has also had $3,527 in negative, unverifiable debt erased from his credit report!

Every week the HOPE Program is proud and thrilled to help our members achieve their dreams of healthier credit and home ownership.  It’s true that the economy has damaged the credit reports of many, many good people in our country.  However, the great news is that, even if your credit scores are low, you have the legal right to work to improve them! We at HOPE firmly believe that having bad credit does NOT make someone a bad person. It gives us great pleasure to help our members recover their good names!

For more information about the services offered by the HOPE Program we please email us or give us a call at 704-499-9696.  Our friendly staff is standing by to receive your call. We would love to show you how the HOPE Program can help you to achieve your clean credit goals!

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