Identity Theft

Identity theft sounds like something out of a spy novel but is in fact a serious problem faced by the entire nation today. It is a subtle job leaving no mask or fingerprints behind and is surely not like anything you might see in any movie. But it is not less scary; in fact it is so devastating that you might even be led to bankruptcy.

Using your Credit Report to stay ahead of Identity Theft

In most cases, the first you hear of your identity being stolen is when you receive letters, phone calls or bills asking for payment of debts you didn’t take out. By now, the damage has been done and a lot of work lies ahead in trying to get everything taken care of. And that is even if you can undo the damage. Sometimes it is irreversible and the effects are often devatating.

Keeping an eye on your credit report is a proven method to prevent Identity Theft as you have the chance of catching any offenders before they manage to do any damage. With many of the credit reporting facilities availble today you will be alerted to any changes on your report, any applications for credit made or any other changes made to your report. If at any time, you see something on your report you feel shouldn’t be there, you can dispute it. More importantly, you can intervene and stop the activity.

Who you should contact in cases of irregularities

Firstly you should contact your credit agency and file a complaint with them regarding the nature of irregularities. Next you can check the address the bills are forwarded to. You may catch the cuplrit there and then. Another thing that you should do is contact other credit referencing agencies to check if they too have the same wrong information. If all the agencies have identical wrong information, it is a good sign someone is playing with your identity and you should file a report with the police.