Well…not exactly, but being aware how to protect yourself from identity theft is a great start in preventing your good name from being misused. As a realtor with RE/MAX Preferred in Toledo Ohio, I see just how important it is to protect you’re your information.
Identity theft is a serious and costly crime. People whose identities have been stolen can spend months or years cleaning up the mess thieves have made. In the meantime, victims may lose job opportunities, be refused loans, housing or cars, or even get arrested for crimes they didn't commit. We see this often when people have not reviewed their credit report for an extended period and begin house hunting in Toledo, Perrysburg, Sylvania or anywhere and loan pre approval process.
The following tips can help you lower your risk of becoming a victim.
Protect your accounts against fraud.
Contact the fraud department of any of the three consumer reporting companies--Equifax, ExperianSM and Trans Union--to place a fraud alert on your credit report. The fraud alert automatically lets credit card companies and other creditors know they must contact you before opening any new accounts or making any changes to your existing accounts.
