A DIY approach to protecting your identity
Posted
Feb 27 2008, 03:49 PM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Mike Richard at Master Your Card was intrigued by the LifeLock commercial in which the company CEO shares his Social Security number with the viewing public, as if to say, "LifeLock's services are so good that I dare you to try to steal my identity."
So Mike decided to check out LifeLock's anti-identity-theft service -- which costs $120 -- to find out what all the fuss is about. "As it turns out," he writes, "every preventive service they offer is relatively easy, convenient and readily available for consumers to do themselves."
For example, LifeLock will ask the credit bureaus to set up fraud alerts for you. Mike says this will take you only 30 minutes to do. He adds that you can go a step further and get a freeze on your credit reports, "effectively blocking all access to credit requests in (your) name."
LifeLock will also have your name removed from credit card and other junk mail lists. Mike advises that you simply go to OptOutPrescreen.com and follow the easy instructions. Likewise with LifeLock's offer to order your credit reports: Visit AnnualCreditReport.com to order your reports for free.
