While waiting for Alan to get a broken bracket on his braces fixed this morning, I heard some interesting info on the radio that I thought I’d pass along. It’s how to protect yourself in an easy way against identity theft. You can do it yourself rather than pay a service to do it. Which it what I like….free!
I’m not only doing this for me and Shane, but also going to do this for my kids social security numbers.
Contact the three major credit bureaus and ask them to place a fraud alert. This will cause problems for anyone trying to open credit cards, take out loans, etc in your name. If someone gets a hold of your social security number and applies for something in your name, the creditor will CALL you. If you do not answer, the crook should not be able to open the account.
It only takes a couple minutes. Consider using your cell number as a contact if your out of the house a lot.
NOTE: Although the credit bureaus say they share info with each other, sometimes they don’t, so call all three!
TransUnion
Fraud Victim Assistance Department
Phone: 800-680-7289
Fax: 714-447-6034
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92634-6790
Equifax
Consumer Fraud Division
Phone: 800-525-6285 or: 404-885-8000
Fax: 770-375-2821
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
Experian
Experian’s National Consumer Assistance
Phone: 888-397-3742
P.O. Box 2104
Allen, TX 75013
BIG GIANT NOTE: This fraud alert only stays in place for 90 days! (How stupid) so you must call back and re-do it.
One more piece of info: 1-888-5-OPT OUT
Thieves like to steal your mail. They look for those endless offers of pre-approved credit cards. So you can call the above number and have them stop sending you all that crap. Good to know.
I'm Sheila. In addition to raising 1 husband and 3 teens, I've founded 
Wow, I have to tell my husband this and get us both hooked up on this Today, and mark my calendar for every 90 days.
THANKS!!
Thanks for the info. I’ve had my wallet stolen before and it’s such a pain in the arse to have to cancel things and I really need to make a point of putting all of this type of info together.
That’s pretty cool but if I have to remember to re-do it every 90 days – well lets just say it probably won’t happen. I have enough trouble just remembering to take my birth control pill daily!
Too bad they can’t make it a permanent thing.
Here’s a tip from my husband’s jar of tricks:
Never sign your name on the back of your credit card. Instead print “Please ask for ID” that way if you ever lose your wallet, it’s a little harder for a thief to use them.
Great idea. We put an alert out when our insurance company’s office got broken into, but just for protection is great. Thanks for the post.
Thanks for the info! I worry about this a lot, glad to know there’s something easy that we can do to help prevent it.
Good tips. It hasn’t (knock on wood) happened to us in a while, but in the last month both my mom and my husband’s nephew had their bank info compromised. Suck.
I meant to say it sucks, but my fingers work faster than my brain.