 TITLE: Four Ways to Reduce the Risk of Identity Theft CONTENT: 1\\. Monitor Your Credit\n-----------------------\nWhile it's possible for someone to steal your information by taking your purse or wallet or burglarizing your home, many incursions that lead to identity theft occur without the victim knowing.\nTo make sure nobody has opened up new accounts under your name, make sure to check each of your credit reports at least yearly. You can get your Experian, Transunion and Equifax credit reports for free at AnnualCreditReport.com.\nIf possible, pull one report every four months so that you're looking at your reports throughout the year. Through Experian, you can get a free copy of your Experian credit report every 30 days as well as free credit monitoring, which provides alerts about new inquiries, accounts and suspicious activity.\nIf you notice fraudulent activity, dispute it with the lender and the bureau. Also, consider freezing your credit reports and request a fraud alert be added to them if you've been victimized.\nWith a credit freeze, no one can view your credit reports, including lenders. So if a thief steals your Social Security number and plans to open credit accounts in your name, they'll be denied. Keep in mind, though, you'll also be denied for legitimate applications unless you lift the freeze. If you place a fraud alert, creditors are encouraged to contact you and verify your information (and that you applied for the loan or credit card in question) before approving the application. END