How To Remove Fraud Alert From Credit

In today's world, technology plays a role in everything we do, from banking and shopping to working and communicating with family and friends. Unfortunately, that same technology that makes life so much easier can also put you at a greater risk for issues like fraud and identity theft if you aren't careful. That's why it's important to learn how to avoid becoming a victim, and you can start by following these tips:

1. Don't Give Out Personal Information

First and foremost, guard your personal information with your life. Never give out your Social Security number unless you're applying for credit. Never give out your financial information unless you contacted the company first and have a legitimate reason for doing so. Banks, retailers and other institutions will not call you and ask for personal details, like bank account information, credit card numbers and passwords. Your bank already has this information, and if you've shopped with a company, it should have your information on file. If you're not sure if a call, email or text is from your bank or a store you trust, hang up or exit out and call them directly to verify they contacted you.

Everyone likes the idea of saving money, earning free items or even getting rich, but much of the time, offers like this turn out to be scams. If someone makes you an offer that sounds too good to be true, it's best to assume that it is. You can also take down the name of the company and search for it online along with words like "scam" or "complaints." Another way to spot scams is to see if they ask you to pay up front. You may receive a call claiming you've won a dream vacation but you have to pay a certain amount in taxes or an amount that will eventually be refunded. No legitimate company will do this.

3. Sign Up for Alerts

From the US government to your bank, there are several ways to stay on top of the latest scams and fraudulent activity. Visit Consumer.ftc.gov to sign up for scam alerts via email. Here, you can also read up on the latest scams happening in the world, including the latest scam and fraud news. You can also look for scams by category if you think you've been a victim of one. If your bank offers email or text message alerts about your account or credit card activity, sign up for them so you can stay on top of what's going on with your financial information. The quicker you learn of any type of fraud happening to you, the easier it is to control. Be sure to monitor your credit report regularly as well.

4. Be Smart With Passwords

One of the best things you can do to safeguard your accounts is to come up with good passwords that are hard for hackers to crack. Don't use words or phrases, and don't use the same password for every site you visit. A good password should be at least eight characters long, and it should have a combination of capital letters, lowercase letters, numbers and special characters. Again, never give your password to anyone. Legitimate banks and stores will not ask for that information. If you receive an email or text message with a link in it that asks you to put in your username or password, even if it claims to be from a business you trust, don't do it. Again, call the company to find out if they sent it to you — you will likely find out they didn't.

5. If You Don't Know Them, Don't Deal With Them

If someone asks you for money or your personal or financial information, don't give it to them. For example, you may have someone call your home pretending to be a charity or political campaign. If it sounds like something you're interested in, take down their information and do some homework before you decide to donate. A great way to verify information is to check with the Better Business Bureau. If you receive any type of robocall — that's a call that answers with a recorded message rather than a live human being — hang up. If you receive a text or email from someone you never contacted or have no business with, ignore it, and definitely don't click any links in it.