Keyblast.com: How to Budget

Identity Theft Protection

(This is a continuation of the lesson: Wealth Protection).

With the advancement of technology, the way we manage our money has also advanced.  Unfortunately, the ways in which dishonest individuals try to steal personal information has also become increasingly sophisticated.  In order to protect your identity and financial information, implement these guidelines:

• Shred bank and other financial documents instead of just throwing it in the trash bin.
• Keep important records under lock and key.
• Never carry both your driver’s license and social security card together in your wallet or purse.
• Use a secure mailbox to send outgoing mail.
• Pick up mail from your mailbox as soon as possible.
• Never give out your social security number or other personal information over the phone; unless you are sure of the company or individual that you are speaking with.
• Purchasing items online is usually  secure; however, always use caution and make sure you know that the business is legitimate.

If you would like to go a step further; some services will actually monitor your personal identity for you.  They will use sophisticated methods to prevent identity theft from occurring, will notify you of suspicious activity, and can help if identity theft has occurred.

If you would like an additional guard against identity theft, a reputable and effective company to use is LifeLock Identity theft services.  In fact, they are so confident in their ability to protect your identity, that the CEO has publicly displayed his social security number.  His name is Todd Davis, and his social security number is 457-55-5462.  It’s not recommended that you publicly display your social security number; however, LifeLock is very well know for their high level of identity theft protection services.  To learn more, please visit their website: LifeLock.

ConclusionWe work all our lives building a nest egg of money to retire on; its important that we protect our lifetime of work.  Use property, health, and life insurance wisely to protect this wealth and prevent against loss.In addition, it is important to take certain steps against identity theft.  Use the steps provided to make your personal information more secure.Review:

• Make sure that you are properly insured in the 3 areas discussed:  Property, Health, and Life Insurance.  Get a free quote from NetQuote to see if you could be getting cheaper car or homeowner’s insurance and to get additional insurance needs. 
• Get a free quote from Assurant Health for health insurance (if needed).
• Get a free quote from Insure Me for life insurance (if needed).
• Implement the steps mentioned for Protecting your wealth.
• Implement the identity theft protection steps in your life.  If you would like to get additional protection against identity theft, visit LifeLock Identity Theft services.

To continue on with the next lesson, please read Entrepreneurship.

Keyblast.com offers a free financial course to help improve personal finances.  If you have not done so already, please start from the beginning and learn How to Budget.