Don't Be the next victim

Idetity theft is one of the most serious crimes of our times. As a society we are more prone to identity theft because of advances in technology that allow us to purchase just about anything without leaving our homes and the convenience of using credit anywhere and everywhere. Life takes ______: you fill in the blank.

Identity theft can't be obliterated completely but we can take certain steps so that we are not its next victim. Here are some tips given by Equifax:

• Be careful about giving out personal information.
• Keep your social security card in a safe place
• Protect your mail
• Guard your credit cards
• Secure your valuables
• Be aware of your surroundings

If you are a victim of identity theft here are some steps you can take:

• Initiate a 90 Day Fraud Alert with one of the credit agencies (Equifax, TransUnion, Experian)
• Place an Active Duty Alert (removes your name from pre-screened offers of credit for 2 years)
• Check your credit report regularly with all the major credit reporting agencies (catch inaccuracies and fraud)