Identity Theft Awareness and Solutions

Identity theft remains one of the fastest growing crimes today and it is not slowing down. Millions of people have been affected by this insidious crime wave and many have been financially ruined before they even knew a breach was taking place.

The Affordable Care Act may bring another wave of Identity Theft crime as part-time government employees will be assisting millions of Americans navigate the health insurance system being implemented on January 1, 2014. These "Navigators" will have access to your name, address, phone, email address, household income information and more during the enrollment process.

In other words, people who use this method of enrolling to a new health insurance plan will be providing all of this personal information to a complete stranger. We are told to trust the government, that none of the personal information will be leaked to anyone or any place outside the ACA system. Does that make you comfortable?

So what do you do? How do you protect yourself and your financial world from identity theft? Beyond watching your wallet and its contents, beyond carefully guarding who handles your credit and debit cards, who sees or handles your checks, what can you do?

First, check your homeowner's insurance policy to see if it extends coverage for identity theft. It may not be premier coverage but it's better than going bare.

Second, subscribe to an Identity Theft Protection service. You want one that covers everyone in your household, one that has a system for notifying you immediately if there is a breach recorded on any of the three credit reporting bureaus. You want a service that "goes to bat" for you if someone does steal your identity and creates havoc.

For example, I have an Identity Theft Protection plan that sends an email AND a text message the second something fishy shows up on Experian, Transunion or Equifax that has my name on it. The service has saved us from criminal invasion of our credit three times in the last ten years. And the service costs less than $25 per month. Do I think it is worth it? YES!

You can see all the details and enroll online at my website. Click on SHOP FOR INSURANCE and then LEGAL SHIELD & IDENTITY THEFT PROTECTION.