Detect Identity Theft

By the Federal Trade Commission

Detect suspicious activity by routinely monitoring your financial accounts and billing statements.

Be alert to signs that require immediate attention:

• Bills that do not arrive as expected.

• Unexpected credit cards or account statements.

• Denials of credit for no apparent reason.

• Calls or letters about purchases you did not make.

Inspect:

Your credit report. Credit reports contain information about you, including what accounts you have and your bill paying history.

• The law requires the major nationwide consumer reporting companies--Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion-- to give you a free copy of your credit report each year if you ask for it.

• Visit www.AnnualCreditReport.com or call 1-877-322-8228, as service created by these three companies, to order your free credit reports each year.

• You also can write: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.

Your financial statements: Review financial accounts and billing statements regularly, looking for changes you did not make.

Finance Topic of the Month: Why Is It So Hard To Get Out Of Debt?