Today, we recommend a look at John Sileo, identity consultant. He has a few interesting posts about keeping your identity safe.

So, an old person stole my identity and paid for an AARP membership and a credit report w/my check card. LOL! Its not funny, but it is!

It may seem like a joke, but it teaches an important lesson: identity theft can happen to anyone and be perpetrated by anyone.

Are you prepared?

some waiters are crooks and have several stolen or cancelled credit cards that they can switch with yours because they look alike….

We’ve written in the past about identity theft when you have your credit card. This example, however, is a little different.

Make sure to check your credit card when you leave a restaurant. It’s a simple way to prevent identity theft. Of course, you’ll also need to regularly monitor your purchases and credit scores to truly protect your credit. ...]]> TonyBarri tweets an all too frightening fact of life:

some waiters are crooks and have several stolen or cancelled credit cards that they can switch with yours because they look alike….

We’ve written in the past about identity theft when you have your credit card. This example, however, is a little different.

Make sure to check your credit card when you leave a restaurant. It’s a simple way to prevent identity theft. Of course, you’ll also need to regularly monitor your purchases and credit scores to truly protect your credit. However, in some cases a simple measure like checking your card can be just as important.

I think I am gonna have to wait around 24 hours before I can actually use my mastercard over the interwebs, damn activation time.

Credit card activation times vary significantly based on the type of card, card use, and other significant variables. However, remember that the hassle of activation is intended to help secure your card.

It may be annoying to wait for a credit card to verify, but it can be a safeguard against identity theft and computer error. Next time you’re stuck waiting, be glad ...]]> ItzEddie is reasonably frustrated:

I think I am gonna have to wait around 24 hours before I can actually use my mastercard over the interwebs, damn activation time.

Credit card activation times vary significantly based on the type of card, card use, and other significant variables. However, remember that the hassle of activation is intended to help secure your card.

It may be annoying to wait for a credit card to verify, but it can be a safeguard against identity theft and computer error. Next time you’re stuck waiting, be glad you aren’t wasting that same time reporting errors or theft.

Advice: Check your credit reports. Almost NOTHING on my credit report is actually ME.

It’s an opportunity for us to repeat our standard advice: check your credit.

Even when a credit report doesn’t reveal identity theft, it can reveal cards you’ve forgotten about or neglected. Make sure your cards are yours- because if they’re on your credit report, they’ll be counted that way.

A few things leapt out at us. First, you notice that the couple was caught for device fraud and using the card. Many safe cards help protect against identity theft.

Second, you should realize that identity theft can happen anywhere. Hopefully, none of us will have to worry about a situation as extreme as the one from the article. But we all have to ...]]> Our alerts pointed us to this article, about a Pennsylvania couple that stole a credit card from a dead friend and rang up over $1,000 in charges.

A few things leapt out at us. First, you notice that the couple was caught for device fraud and using the card. Many safe cards help protect against identity theft.

Second, you should realize that identity theft can happen anywhere. Hopefully, none of us will have to worry about a situation as extreme as the one from the article. But we all have to worry about daily threats that, while less novel, are no less real.

Tip: Check your childs credit report on a regular basis. Children are becoming the fastest growing group of id theft victims in the country.

Unfortunately, identity theft with children is a problem. Fortunately, there is something you can do about it.

We’ve written before about teaching your children about credit, but in this case, you may need to take credit yourself. Obviously, a child under 18 can’t do a lot to pursue their own credit. The younger they get, the harder ...]]> Securus_Ohio provides a good tip for keeping kids safe:

Tip: Check your childs credit report on a regular basis. Children are becoming the fastest growing group of id theft victims in the country.

Unfortunately, identity theft with children is a problem. Fortunately, there is something you can do about it.

We’ve written before about teaching your children about credit, but in this case, you may need to take credit yourself. Obviously, a child under 18 can’t do a lot to pursue their own credit. The younger they get, the harder it is.

So what can you do? Each of the three major credit reporting agencies will issue a report for your child. Sometimes, you may need to wrangle with paperwork- you will probably have to require proof of your identity and your child’s identity- but it should be worth it. You can make sure your child’s record is safe from identity fraud and that they have a fresh start when they do begin building credit of their own.

Seems like somebody is trying to make a fraud purchase using my mastercard. My card is always with me. Do I have to worry?

Unfortunately, even if you have your physical credit card, you may still be at risk for identity theft.

How? The information on your credit card is as important as the physical card. If anyone steals that information by making a copy or recording the numbers, you’re at risk for them using your card illegally. There are numerous examples of this occurring ...]]> Denisvlasov is starting to get suspicious:

Seems like somebody is trying to make a fraud purchase using my mastercard. My card is always with me. Do I have to worry?

Unfortunately, even if you have your physical credit card, you may still be at risk for identity theft.

How? The information on your credit card is as important as the physical card. If anyone steals that information by making a copy or recording the numbers, you’re at risk for them using your card illegally. There are numerous examples of this occurring across the country- here’s one story about waiters and waitresses stealing credit card information.

That doesn’t mean you have to be paranoid when giving out your credit information, but you should be smart. In the past, we’ve written tips for giving out credit card information over the phone, as well as helping merchants protect your credit card information. Our general primer on identity theft might help as well.

What can you do if you’re sure your information has been compromised? We’d recommend obtaining a credit report and ensuring that everything seems in order. You can also contact your credit card company. If you believe you know who or what business stole your information, it can’t hurt to tell the credit card company or the Better Business Bureau to try and prevent future theft. By being vigilant, you can make sure you’re taking credit instead of losing it.

Two grocery store chains attempt to ban check writing: http://bit.ly/12QcOInteresting because a few vendors no longer process credit cards

The story makes an interesting point- in a lot of cases, the most popular method becomes the most convenient method for merchants, even if it costs them more.

Checks used to be one of the most popular payment methods. Apart from any bank-imposed fee, they are free for consumers and deduct money directly from the consumer’s account. ...]]> CharleneDavis highlights a possible trend:

Two grocery store chains attempt to ban check writing: http://bit.ly/12QcOInteresting because a few vendors no longer process credit cards

The story makes an interesting point- in a lot of cases, the most popular method becomes the most convenient method for merchants, even if it costs them more.

Checks used to be one of the most popular payment methods. Apart from any bank-imposed fee, they are free for consumers and deduct money directly from the consumer’s account. Detractors note that checks are susceptible to identity theft. In addition, they make record keeping more difficult for consumers and merchants alike.

Credit cards, however, are by no means universally loved, but they may be preferred due to their popularity.  As we’ve written before, merchants dislike transaction fees, which are charged per purchase. However, consumers obviously like to use credit, and even merchants admit that it streamlines some record keeping options. While identity theft is still a problem with credit cards, it’s less of one than with checks. Debit cards also represent a high tech alternative to the paper check.

Ultimately, the payment methods merchants accept may come down to consumer popularity. If merchants aren’t able to dissuade consumers from using a particular payment method, they may have to adjust their procedures to accommodate it.  You’ll still be able to balance your traditional check book for a while, of course. But you might want to think a bit before you order your next shipment of checks.

heyyyy it looks like there’s a macy’s card in my credit report what is this nonsense.

Her tweet highlights one of the reasons it’s smart to get a credit report: to know exactly what credit you have.

Credit reports have a number of uses, but knowing about your credit types is a key advantage of monitoring your credit. By knowing what credit you have, you can estimate how it affects your credit rating and credit score and know what options you have ...]]> Kweenie got a surprise in a recent credit report:

heyyyy it looks like there’s a macy’s card in my credit report what is this nonsense.

Her tweet highlights one of the reasons it’s smart to get a credit report: to know exactly what credit you have.

Credit reports have a number of uses, but knowing about your credit types is a key advantage of monitoring your credit. By knowing what credit you have, you can estimate how it affects your credit rating and credit score and know what options you have to improve them both. It’s easy to be taken surprise by credit you didn’t know you had or have forgotten about.

In addition to learning about credit you have forgotten about, a credit report can also alert you to identity theft. If someone signed up for credit under your name, you can find out and take action. By controlling your credit, you can ensure you know when it’s being used and who is using it.