Identity Theft
Do You Need Credit Monitoring?
Tuesday, June 8th, 2010
Everywhere you look, it seems, some company is offering to monitor your credit report – for a fee. Do you need the protection? A recent CNNMoney.com story said most people do not. The article noted that using a credit-monitoring service won’t prevent anyone from opening credit in your name. The only way to do that ... [Read more]
Keep Your Number to Yourself
Tuesday, April 20th, 2010
The best way to guard against identity theft is to guard your Social Security number According to the Social Security Administration, relatively few organizations actually need your number. Your employer needs it in order to pay you. Financial institutions such as banks and brokerage firms need it because they report interest earned to the IRS. ... [Read more]
Protecting Yourself Online
Monday, February 8th, 2010
Walletpop recently put together an excellent list of resources for educating yourself and your kids about safe surfing on the Internet. The piece recommended a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) web site geared toward adults and a site for parents from an organization called Common Sense Media that offers guidance based on their child’s age. The ... [Read more]
Your Life is an Open Book
Thursday, October 8th, 2009
It sounds like a horrific scene out of some sci-fi movie set decades down the road – lots of computer databases filled with lots of information about…you! But it’s not some fictionalized account of the future; it’s today’s reality. As described in Consumer Reports, information about your use of credit, insurance claims, medical history, and ... [Read more]
Cracking the Code on LifeLock
Tuesday, June 24th, 2008
By now you’ve seen the commercial in which Todd Davis gives you his Social Security number. He’s one of the founders of LifeLock, a company that offers to protect you from identity theft for a monthly fee of about $10. A New York Times article noted that while the company has lined up more than ... [Read more]
ID Theft Protection Hype and Help
Tuesday, April 8th, 2008
With identity theft much in the news, various ID theft protection services have emerged. But a recent Wall Street Journal article said most are not worth the cost. The only pay-to-play service that may be worthwhile is a credit freeze, which prevents access to your credit file. Depending on where you live, it may cost ... [Read more]
