I don't know about you but I think about identity theft almost on a daily basis.  With this day and age technology has taken us to new heights making it easier for thieves to gain our personal information and use it against us.  As Realtors, we are in the public eye and as we make ourselves more known on the internet so does our information.  In addition, we need to guard our client's personal information from getting into the wrong hands. 

It is more important now than ever to keep a close eye on your banking accounts, credit cards, bills and overall credit.  It is a good idea to do a credit check on yourself several times a year just to make sure the accounts you have open are really the ones you are holding in your hand.  Credit reports contain information about you, including what accounts you have and your bill paying history.  The law requires the major nationwide consumer reporting companies, Equifax, Experian, & TransUnion to give you a free copy of your credit report each year if you ask for it.  Visit http://www.ammualcreditreport.com/ or call 1-877-322-8228, a service created by these three companies for you to order your free credit reports each year.

Here are some great tips to keeping your credit in line...

• Routinely monitor your financial account and billing statements, while looking for charges you didn't make. 
• Shred financial documents and paperwork w/ personal information before you discard them.
• Protect your Social Security number.  Don't carry the card around in your wallet!
• Don't give out personal information over the phone, mail or internet unless you know who you are dealing with.
• Never click on links sent in emails!
• Don't use obvious passwords like your birth date, your mother's maiden name, or the last four digits of your SS#.
• Keep your personal info in a secure place at home, especially if your home is on the market, if you have roommates, employ outside help, or are having work done in your house. 

In order to buy a home, a buyer needs good credit.  Monitoring credit it and keeping it in line is an important job you don't want to overlook!

Has someone stolen your identity or credit?  What happened?  How do you think they gained your info?  What did you do to solve the issue?