rhymemaze
join:2005-03-10
Upper Marlboro, MD
 ·SUNROCKET
| Identity theft solutions: fraud alerts, credit monitoring..
Hi. I currently have a credit monitoring service. When new credit is opened, I typically receive first notice 1-2 business days after the account is opened.
I am looking into getting better "protection" for my wife, I, and our 2 kids (ages 1&3). As a note, I have recently contacted Transunion to make sure that nobody started a credit file in their names so I know, as a family, we are clear.
I looked into Lifelock, though I am not sure what they do besides put fraud alerts on my credit files....do they do any credit monitoring as well? I like the idea of stopping the thief with the fraud alert calls, although, I am concerned as to what happens if someone tries to open credit in our names and the creditor fails to place that fraud alert call to me, and hence establishes credit for the thief. Does Lifelock monitor my credit and alert me in that regard as well? If not, what happens then? I emailed Lifelock but would like any user insight on this or anyone else in the know.
...And what about other services? Who else offers these services (fraud alerts + credit monitoring + any other layers of protection) that you would recommend?
Thanks for any information on this subject. I need to get something established soon and appreciate everyone's input. |
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Lunarnova
join:2008-03-17
Seattle, WA
edit:
March 25th, @11:12AM
| There was an article a few weeks ago regarding Lifelock being sued by Equifax I believe. Basically they were saying that Lifelock charges $$$ for things that you can do for yourself like putting fraud alerts on your files and such. I think the article was one of the Red Tape reports on the MSNBC site. Here is the link:
»redtape.msnbc.com/2008/02/experi···s-l.html
I have personally not used their service, so I cannot attest to it, just passing on what I have read. I can attest to the fact that fraud alerts do work, but you USUALLY have to be a victim of ID theft for them to be put on your files. You mentioned that you checked your file, but I still want to mention that you need to make sure that you check your file from all 3 agencies. They all have different information.
I believe the credit agencies themselves have their own credit monitoring, but I do not know if they cover all 3. (TransUnion, Equifax and Experian) You might want to check out their websites also.
Oh, one other thing... The government has established a website that allows you to get a free credit report each year from the 3 reporting agencies. The site is annualcreditreport.com. You can also access this through the Federal Trade Commission's website at www.FTC.gov. |
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rhymemaze
join:2005-03-10
Upper Marlboro, MD
·SUNROCKET
| Thanks for the reply. The article you linked was interesting. I know I can set these fraud alerts vs. Lifelock, etc., but I wonder if I have to set them with each of the 3 credit reporting agencies? I need to search that part out yet.
My current credit monitoring covers all three agencies but no fraud alerts. It sounds like I may just need to set up fraud alerts myself unless I can find a company that will monitor my credit plus place the fraud alerts. I'd rather have that set up, but have not come up with a solution yet.
Thanks again for the information.
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Lunarnova
join:2008-03-17
Seattle, WA
| Fraud alerts go out to each of the 3 agencies no matter what agency you call. I would still double check that it did go through, but I'm anal when it comes to stuff like this.
There are 2 different types of alerts, one that stays on your account for 90 days (I think this is the one that Lifelock does) and one that stays on your account for 7 years. I think this is also refered to as a Victim Statement. The 7 year one requires that you have a police or other law enforcement report on file. |
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rhymemaze
join:2005-03-10
Upper Marlboro, MD
·SUNROCKET
| I looked into the fraud alerts a bit, and it can be done over the phone. Transunion has an automated system it seems (have not checked the others). I have not started the alert yet but nice to know it will be easy to do so.
»www.transunion.com/corporate/per···rt.page? |
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Grail Knight
Who Dares Wins
Premium
join:2003-05-31
Erie, PA
 ·Verizon Online DSL
| Depending on how often you apply for credit you could put a security freeze on your credit files.
Some states do not charge a fee to freeze or unfreeze the file. Only 39 states so far have enacted this measure and I see MD is one of them.
More info by state is here:
»www.consumersunion.org/campaigns···div.html
--
"There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact". - Sherlock Holmes |
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rhymemaze
join:2005-03-10
Upper Marlboro, MD
·SUNROCKET
| Hey, thanks for the information on the security freeze. This morning I went ahead and placed my fraud alerts. I still may enact the security freeze for my wife though; we are not credit hungry so that may be a better solution for her ID.
And to think I was going to pay Lifelock $100/year (each ID) to place the fraud alerts....glad I looked into this a bit more beforehand. |
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Grail Knight
Who Dares Wins
Premium
join:2003-05-31
Erie, PA
·Verizon Online DSL
| You are welcome.
I had looked into Life Lock before for the family but read that most of the things they do for pay you can do for free or a small fee also.
--
"There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact". - Sherlock Holmes |
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rhymemaze
join:2005-03-10
Upper Marlboro, MD
·SUNROCKET
| reply to rhymemaze
I found how to opt-out of pre-approved credit offers sent to your house:
»https://www.optoutprescreen.com/opt_form.cgi
...this is the other thing that Lifelock does for you, along with the fraud alerts.
I am wondering, if I place a security freeze on my wife's credit, is there any point in continuing to pay for credit monitoring? Seems like a no, but not sure if I am missing something there.
Also, when looking into this, I saw another credit reporting agency that is recognized along with the big 3 (which I don't know much about yet).
»www.innovis.com/
More about Innovis:
»www.bankrate.com/brm/news/mortga···type=mtg |
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bcook8033
join:2008-04-30
Lubbock, TX
edit:
April 30th, @11:26AM
| reply to rhymemaze
Hopefully the Identity Theft Prevention Programs that are now required for banks and oher creditors will help fight identity theft on another front. All these companies must now have their formal program that is supposed to prevent identity theft in place by November 1, 2008. The regulations are implementing section 114 of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 (FACT Act) and require organizations to identify and look for red flags of identity theft. Now hopefully companies will be held more accountable for opening accounts and giving access to accounts to someone who is attempting to steal an identity. Companies can now be fined up to $11,000.00 per violation of the FTC Act, so maybe that will cause them to be a little more thorough in checking for stolen identities.
Here is some more reading about the regulations if you're interested:
»www.conetrix.com/files/ITPP_Regulation.pdf
»ezinearticles.com/?Implementing-···d=931599
»www.conetrix.com/Identity-Theft-···ram.aspx |
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user2234
@rr.com | reply to rhymemaze
Try these dorks
lmao!
»security.iccohio.com/default.aspx |
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Dan601
@rr.com
| reply to rhymemaze
said by rhymemaze  : I am concerned as to what happens if someone tries to open credit in our names and the creditor fails to place that fraud alert call to me, and hence establishes credit for the thief. At the large national credit grantor I am very familiar with, 'Fraud Alert' apps can't be systemically approved. They are pended to a Credit Officer for verification via a phone call using the phone number provided on the credit report, not the application. Please make sure yours is up to date. As for the FACTA 'Red Flag Rules', there is nothing in them that any prudent lender hasn't been doing all along as part of a Fraud prevention strategy. |
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GuruGuy
join:2002-12-16
Atlanta, GA | Credit report phone numbers are updated from credit apps, as are addresses, job titles, places of employment, salary info, etc.
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GuruGuy |
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