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Read recent articles about Free Credit Report
| How to fight identity theft?
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Minimize the risk. Be careful about sharing
personal information or letting it circulate freely.
When you are asked
to provide personal information, ask how it will be used, why it is needed, who
will be sharing it and how it will be safeguarded.
Give out no more than
the minimum, and carry the least possible with you.
Be particularly
careful about your SIN; it is an important key to your identity, especially in
credit reports and computer databases.
Don't give your credit card
number on the telephone, by electronic mail, or to a voice mailbox, unless you
know the person with whom you're communicating or you initiated the
communication yourself, and you know that the communication channel is secure.
Take advantage of technologies that enhance your security and privacy
when you use the Internet, such as digital signatures, data encryption, and
"anonymizing" services.
Pay attention to your billing cycle. If credit
card or utility bills fail to arrive, contact the companies to ensure that they
have not been illicitly redirected.
Notify creditors immediately if your
identification or credit cards are lost or stolen.
Access your credit
report from a credit reporting agency once a year to ensure it's accurate and
doesn't include debts or activities you haven't authorized or incurred.
Ask that your accounts require passwords before any inquiries or changes
can be made, whenever possible.
Choose difficult passwords – not your
mother's maiden name.
Memorise them, change them often. Don't write them
down and leave them in your wallet, or some equally obvious place.
Key
in personal identification numbers privately when you use direct purchase
terminals, bank machines, or telephones.
Find out if your cardholder
agreement offers protection from credit card fraud; you may be able to avoid
taking on the identity thief's debts.
Be careful what you throw out.
Burn or shred personal financial information such as statements, credit card
offers, receipts, insurance forms, etc. Insist that businesses you deal with do
the same.
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| How Can I Improve my Credit Score? |
1. Pay off any old, collection account or delinquent debt.
2. Only open and keep accounts that you need... don't race to put 20 credit cards in your pocket.
3. Don't apply for every credit card that comes in the mail or via email. The more "HARD INQUIRIES" on your report the lower your score.
4. Pay off credit cards and other revolving lines of credit every month if possible.
5. Always pay EVERY bill on time, even if it means sending in less (but at least the minimum amount). If you can't pay your bill on time, call the company and let them know.
6. Read carefully any application for credit, considering the APR, late and other fees, annual or monthly fees, and Grace period (if applicable).
7. Shop around for the best credit possible.
8. Run a credit check on your own credit profile and dispute all incorect information.
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