Credit Reports for Detecting Identity Theft
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Three companies report your credit: Equifax,
Experian, and Trans Union. Identity theft evidence might be
found on just one, or all three. (You never know!)
To be safe, check them all
with this tri-bureau merged credit report, arranged so that you can
easily spot discrepancies. Available in seconds. Includes your free
credit score (fully explained), and lots more helpful information.
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Get this single credit report if you
want a quick "first look" at your credit file. The report is
from one of the "big-3" nationwide credit
reporting agencies.
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Get a free credit report
just for trying CreditCheck® Monitoring 30 days at no cost. This ongoing
service gives you monthly online alerts of new
derogatory information, recent inquiries, and indicators of possible
identity theft. As part of the service, check your credit
report online whenever you wish! The free credit report is yours
to keep, whether or not you continue with the CreditCheck® service.
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What to Look for On Your Credit Report
Your credit report is the most
effective tool available for detecting identity theft. If you are
fortunate enough not to have been victimized, it also provides great peace
of mind to have verified that everything on your credit report is the
result of legitimate activity, based on your finances, and
only your finances.
Inquiries
Inquiries should correspond to
applications you submitted, or requests you made for
credit. (In addition, your creditors, employers, or collection agencies
might recheck your credit periodically.) Inquiries
that seem clearly out of place, based on the date or company, should be
investigated carefully as evidence of
possible identity theft.
Incorrect Address, Employment
It is not uncommon to find a small
"typo" here or there, but a bogus recent address or employment
change calls for careful investigation.
Inactive Accounts with Activity
Thieves have been known to change
the billing address on on old accounts you've forgotten about, a use them
as if it were their own. A credit report shows whether each account is
open or closed, and the activity.
Accounts You Are Unaware You Have
It may be wise to close accounts
you no longer use. A credit report can
remind you of them.
Unexpected Public Records
Credit reports show court
judgments, liens, foreclosures, evictions, and other public records. Look
for anything that is incorrect, and clearly not yours.
Unexpected Derogatory Information
The typical pattern of an identity
thief is to run up lots of bills, then not pay them. Look for unexpected
past-due items.
Who To Notify of ID Theft
In the event of identity theft,
each affected company should be notified. Your credit report provides a
convenient listing for you of who to notify. Your Identity
Theft Affidavit should be sent to each one.
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