Identity Theft Prevention
Part of staying secure on the internet is preventing identity theft. The phrase "an ounce of cure is worth a pound of prevention" applies here, because repairing a stolen identity can be very difficult, but there are straightforward steps you can take to protect your identity from being stolen in the first place. We can help you every step of the way to check and freeze your credit file for optimal protection. Read on for resources you can take advantage of right now.
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Check your credit reports
Your first step to protect your identity is to know what's in your credit reports. Do this with each of the 3 credit bureaus. If you find anything inaccurate, follow the instructions in the credit report to dispute inaccuracies.
There is only 1 place to reliably check your credit at no cost: AnnualCreditReport.com. Click the link below to check your credit: Freeze your credit
Once you've checked your credit and confirmed it's accurate, your most protective step is to freeze your credit. Freezing your credit means that nobody can open new financial accounts in your name, and companies cannot perform a credit check on you. This is an effective tool to combat identity theft, and has the added benefit of reducing junk mail since companies can't pre-approve you for credit while your credit is frozen.
The safest way to use a credit freeze is to have your credit frozen at all times, except for the specific times when you need to have your credit checked or open a new financial account. Each credit bureau allows you to "thaw" your credit for a specific time period (e.g. 1 week), and can then automatically re-freeze your credit. Because this is a powerful tool, it's important to understand that if you freeze your credit, you must thaw it before you will be allow to open accounts with new financial institutions or have your credit checked. When freezing or thawing your credit, make sure you do so with each of the 3 credit bureaus. Call TodayWould you like help protecting your identity or using the tools discussed above? We'd love to chat with you. Call us today at 828-354-0371 or click here to schedule an appointment.
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