Posts Tagged Criminals

Free Credit Report – Know the Advantages of Viewing Personal Credit Reports

Merry Niebieskooka asked:




Access to credit reports is difficult to obtain; the government offers each person one free look per year at their credit report. Since recordings change frequently, one view per year is not enough for those who are truly concerned about their credit. Ordering a credit score report from other trusted companies on the web is advised for continual monitoring. Here is a quick review of important facts about why monitoring credit reports regularly is so crucial:

1. Access To Unknown Reports
Recordings may be reported that the consumer is not even aware of. Everyone has forgotten various bills for things they have signed up for, such as monthly subscriptions and various types of membership clubs. Some companies with high membership or subscription fees may report items which are severely past due and have accumulated a large amount.

2. Improving Chances Of Success For Those Seeking Employment
Many times different items may be added to a credit report which will cause serious problems. Those seeking a job will find that undesirable recordings on a credit report may result in disqualification for a position applied for. In today’s tough economy, knowing what is on one’s credit score is crucial to avoid being disregarded for good jobs.

3. Discovery Of Mistakes
With the rising popularity of identity theft, monitoring a credit report may save the consumer from costly hassles. While it is possible to stop, catch and prosecute criminals responsible for this, the process is lengthy and usually requires large amounts of out-of-pocket money from the victim. Catching mysterious isolated reports before they materialize into a long list is highly advised to protect one’s identity.

4. Working On Credit Improvement
Due to the current economic crisis, excellent credit is needed for approval of credit cards and loans for vehicles. By working to contact creditors and resolving issues recorded on a credit score report, the consumer will enjoy an increased score and removal of undesirable records.

Clifford

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Identity Theft – Guard Your Children’s Social Security Numbers

Charles Essmeier asked:




Identity theft is a growing concern among Americans, and rates among the top five complaints received by states’ Attorney General’s offices. A stolen identity can lead to tens of thousands of dollars worth of debt in the victim’s name and it can take years to completely undo the damage done to the victim’s credit report. Identity thieves can successfully commit crime with as little as a driver’s license number or credit card number, but the ideal target of such criminals is the Social Security number. With that number in hand, the identity thief can pass themselves off as the victim and open credit card accounts, bank accounts, and even obtain home equity loans. As more Americans become aware of the problems posed by identity theft, consumers are doing more to protect themselves. This has inspired thieves to look to a new source of identities to steal, and they have found one. They are now stealing the identities of children.

Established in the 1930′s the Social Security Administration was set up to provide benefits for retired Americans. Taxes are withdrawn from the paychecks of eligible workers, and each worker is issued a Social Security number in order to keep track of his or her benefits. Over the years, and despite the intentions of those who created the system, the Social Security number has become a de facto national identity number. It is difficult, if not impossible, to engage in most financial transactions without providing that number to the other party in the transaction. In fact, the number itself has become as important as the name of the person who holds it. Over the years, criminals have discovered that by obtaining the Social Security number of someone else, all kinds of illegal activities are possible, including obtaining loans in the names of the owner’s of the stolen numbers.

With more people now aware of the potential of identity theft, consumers are more carefully protecting their personal information. As a result, thieves are now targeting the Social Security numbers of children. A law passed in 1989 requires parents of newborn infants to register for a Social Security number for their child. That child will probably not need that number until he or she is a teenager, when the number might be necessary to obtain a driver’s license, open a bank account, or get a job. In the meantime, the number is not only unused, but the theft of it may go unnoticed. Thieves who obtain a Social Security number of a child know that they can probably use it for a decade without being caught.
How can you protect your child from identity theft? Treat your child’s personal information as if it were your own, and guard it carefully. Don’t give out the Social Security number of your child unless it is absolutely necessary, and if you aren’t sure if it’s necessary, ask. Some doctors and hospitals, for instance, request the number as a matter of course, but they may not actually need it.

Check to see if your child has a credit report. You can obtain one for free at the free credit report Website. Your child, if not working, shouldn’t have a credit report, so if the credit bureaus have one on file, you may have a problem. A child’s personal information is as useful to an identity thief as that of an adult. Guard yours and your children’s identification carefully.

Todd

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Personal Credit Report via The Internet

Mika Hamilton asked:


Many people are under the assumption that personal credit reports are private and can not be accessed by anyone else. However, this is simply not true.

A credit report is comprised of different information. All the information mentioned in your credit report is very important. Not only can your credit be tracked but in some cases so can your investments.

For example, there will be some identifying information like your name, address, Social Security number, date of birth and employment information. The Fair Credit Reporting Act states that your personal credit report can be obtained for any purpose. Businesses, friends, family, and future employees can take a look at your credit report at anytime.

There is at least another case to consider which will help consumers. The private citizens can access the personal credit report of any business that they are considering using in the future.

This loophole has created a huge market for the top three credit bureaus. They can easily sell your credit report for a full profit to anyone with or without your permission.

The reason why the Credit Reporting Agency has these rules that basically work against customers right is because people do not know that their personal credit reports can be obtained so easily, and the people who do know do not care.

Another problem arises from this lack of privacy – that criminals can access your credit report and then use your credit information including your name, address, and social security number. The best way to make sure you are not being taking advantage of is to obtain a copy of your own personal credit report and check it for errors.

Ignoring problems will only lead to more problems. Credit Bureaus are not very forgiving of identity fraud. If your credit score is low it can take a long time to repair and you have no real alternative but to wait and be patient.

As technology advances there will continue to be problems with criminals accessing personal credit reports and use them in illegal ways. Unless, we speak to our governmental officials, our credit and private information will be readily available to anyone who can pay the 9 dollars to access it. According to state law, all credit reporting agencies are required to provide you with two free copies of your personal credit report. You can do this by phone or online with Annualcreditreport.com, Equifax.com, and Experian.com. Remember to know your rights as a private citizen, and understand that information you believe to private may not be. Being educated and informed is the best way to prevent identity fraud and save your credit score.

Credit scores can affect your ability to just about anything including investing. People with local credit scores are considered high risk to investment companies and they would rather not deal with people who they may lose money too in the long run. Make sure your credit report is correct and up to date before you start investing.



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