Maryland Divorce and Identity Theft
In the crazy shuffle of divorce sometimes all the other things we need to do in life are easily forgotten. Getting your financial status straight should be everyone’s top priority, whether you are in a divorce or not. It’s very important that we make sure no one is falsely using our name and causing more stress than we need by taking advantage of our good credit scores.
The worst factor of identity theft is that victims may not know their credit has been used unlawfully until it’s too late. Be smart and keep an eye on your records.
Review your credit report often. Make sure there are no surprises or purchases that you are unaware of. A good thing to keep an eye on is the inquiries section of your credit report. The inquiries section is where you may find an indication that you are a victim of theft. This is where you will see how many accounts have been opened, or where a thief tried to open an account but failed to have all of your information.
The three major credit bureaus that you can look at are :
www.equifax.com
www.transunion.com
www.experian.com
Keep a close eye on your mail. If you do not get a statement in a timely manner, contact your creditor. Thieves are keen on stealing mail to find out all of your information. The safest bet for everyone is a post office box, then your mail cannot be stolen. Hand deliver mail that has your personal information on it to a secure mail location rather than just putting it in your outgoing mail.
When you apply for a new account at most places, the only information needed is your name, social security number, current and former address. Keep your social security number safe and well out of reach to be stolen.
Money matters ! Keep an eye on all of your records. The last thing you need in a divorce is to be a victim of theft.