Dealt with Identity Theft
Dealt with Identity Theft
When I was younger, I had a credit check done. I found there were dings on my credit report that were not caused by me. Now, I make sure I monitor my credit closely.
There are services that I use that take worrying about identity theft out of my hands. I never have to worry about someone using my Social Security number or identity. When I open a new bank account or use my Social Security number for any application, I receive a call, text, or email alert. This helps me know if any of my information is being used by someone other than myself so I can stop it!
MilSpouse Money
Mission Response:
We are glad to hear you were able to resolve the errors on your credit report, Brittany. It can feel a little scary to know that your personal information may be susceptible to theft, but the good news is that there are steps you can take to protect your identity. Brittany brings up a great activity we should all be doing on a regular basis: monitoring our credit. This is very important because your credit reputation impacts your access to and cost of debt, job opportunities, and housing options.
You and your spouse have separate credit reputations and it is important to monitor both. As Brittany mentions, fee-based services are available to help you monitor your credit, but it is still important to be vigilant and track all accounts for unauthorized activity, track your credit score, and know who is looking at your credit report. Active-duty Service members are eligible for free credit monitoring via the three Nationwide Consumer Reporting Agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Click here for more details. Make it a point to check your credit report each year, visit www.annualcreditreport.com to learn how. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, you can check your credit report for free each week until April 2022.
Sometimes, even with your best efforts to protect yourself, you may have to deal with identity theft. The first thing to do is report any unauthorized activity to your financial institution immediately. See this resource for further steps to keep your financial identity secure. Make credit monitoring part of your financial readiness routine to keep your family on track!
