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Monitor your credit three times per year - identity theft

By
Mortgage and Lending with V.I.P. Mortgage

 

credit card

 

You need to monitor your credit three times per year to check for the possibility of identity theft.  I'm sure you know that, by law ,you are entitled to a free credit report once each year. 

But, did you realize that means you can actually monitor your credit three times per year - once, thru each of the three national credit repositories - Equifax, Experian and Trans Union?

Here's a great website you can use - www.annualcreditreport.com.  A good way to make this work is to check one repository every four months.  So, in January, check your credit thru Equifax.  In May, check your credit thru Experian.  Then in September, use Trans Union.  This gives you an opportunity to monitor your credit three times per year - for FREE.

Identity theft is running rampant on a national level and is the fastest growing crime in the US.  The incidence of identity theft has risen 22% since 2007.  In 2008 there were 10 million victims of this crime.

While this system will not keep someone from stealing your identity it does give you a way to monitor your credit more frequently to catch anything that might be amiss before it has a chance to get out of control.

www.annualcreditreport.com is a totally free site and does not require any membership fees and no hidden charges.  Try it!  It just could be the best money you never spent.

Posted by

Jane Penttinen, Sr. Loan Officer
NMLS #222178
Sunstreet Mortgage, LLC
520-547-4150

Jane Penttinen (Sunstreet Mortgage, LLC - Sr. Loan Officer): Loan Officer in Tucson, AZ 

If you, your friends or family require the services of a mortgage professional, please don't hesitate to call me.  I am never too busy for any of your referrals.

BK090736      

Comments (6)

Kenneth Cole
Weichert Realtors Appleseed Group, 2043 Richmond Ave. S.I.N.Y. 10314. office phone 718-698-9797, Appleseedhomes.com... - Staten Island, NY
NYS Licensed Real Estate Salesperson

Thanks for the heads up.  Having a very busy schedule, I subscribed to lifelock.  Now I don't have to think about it.

Sep 03, 2009 05:15 AM
Michael Rohde
Sunstreet Mortgage LLC. Licensed Mortgage Professional - Tucson, AZ

I had never thought of doing one at a time to increase the frequency to 3 checks per year. I am so in the mind set of pulling three at once I just never thought about one. Great idea.

Sep 04, 2009 07:23 AM
Lee & Carol Barbour, REALTORS
Murphy and Hayesville, NC; Hiawassee, Blairsville, Blue Ridge GA - Murphy, NC
Mountain Living Team in Murphy NC and North GA

I like that we can check it for FREE 3 times a year. Thanks for sharing this great information Jane.

Sep 04, 2009 03:34 PM
Jane Penttinen
V.I.P. Mortgage - Tucson, AZ
NMLS #222178

Kenneth, Michael, Lee & Carol - Thanks for commenting.  What a lot of people don't realize is they should also be checking this for their minor children.  People are stealing the social security numbers of very young people and creating havoc for them before they even have a chance to do anything.

It's a good life - but a crazy world! :)

Sep 05, 2009 03:59 AM
Donne Knudsen
Los Angeles & Ventura Counties in CA - Simi Valley, CA
CalState Realty Services

Jane - While hubby and I have an identity theft monitoring system, which I tout to all my clients about getting, I am still a little shocked at the number of people I meet who have never seen their credit report before.  If I can instill anything into my clients, it's that I hope they begin to monitor their credit reports after they buy their home.  I really try and help them understand how absolutely vital this is to their future as homeowners.

Sep 09, 2009 03:27 AM
Jane Penttinen
V.I.P. Mortgage - Tucson, AZ
NMLS #222178

Donne - you are so correct.  We have to stay vigilant at all times.  You might want to point out to your clients that they should be monitoring their children's credit as well.  More and more identity theft is showing up against children thru stolen social security numbers.

Sep 09, 2009 05:59 AM