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Who Protects You from New Credit Account Fraud?
12:00:00 AM Friday, June 20, 2008
We are in need of ingenious solutions to the problem of a relatively new and utterly destructive type of identity fraud - new account fraud. New account fraud occurs when a criminal uses your identity information, such as your Social Security Number, driver's license number or credit card number to open a new account with the purpose of obtaining a new credit card or loan.
The cases of new account fraud are becoming more and more frequent, which is largely due to the currently prevailing systems of ID theft prevention and protection. Most of present-day security systems are focused on the authentication of existing account owners, not new ones, which provides criminals with a loophole.
Meanwhile, more and more customers suffering from the new credit card account fraud are seeking qualified assistance which would offer not only protection but also prevention of ID theft. This kind of assistance is available with LifeLock, identity theft prevention and protection services company.
LifeLock staff realizes that its customers' identity is a valuable commodity which they need to function in everyday life. The company offers a couple of services and gives a $1 million guarantee that the services will ensure the customer's ID and credit security. Otherwise, they agree to pay up to $1 million to cover expenses incurred as a result of their system's failure to prevent ID theft and new account fraud.
LifeLock credit protection services are most effective when you mean to avoid the threat itself of falling victim to ID theft losses. The company ensures that, as its member, you needn't be afraid that your identity will be fraudulently used even if you happened to display your social Security or other personal information on public or got your credit card stolen.
There are two major types of services offered by LifeLock, which will prevent your stolen identity from fraudulent usage. First, it is the option to put a 90-day fraud alert on your credit report. Once you set the alert with one of the three national credit bureaus, the others will follow, contacting you each time there is a new application for credit made in your name. Their major task is to make sure the applicant is really you and not anyone else.
A more effective ID theft protection service is locking your credit report by means of freezing it. Credit account freeze prevents issuers, others than your current one, from getting access to your credit report unless you decide to unlock it. Criminals have no chances to open a new account in your name if this sort of protection is activated.
The drawback of credit account freeze is a customer's inability to easily apply for new credit cards. To lift up the lock, the applicant will be required to pay a certain charge and may wait some period before his/her application rights are restored.
LifeLock Company is building up a loyal customer base and enjoys support from some major US companies. It stands out from other similar companies due to its unique solutions preventing ID theft losses before they occur.
Here are some other options LifeLock offers its subscribers:
- Removing your name from mailing lists for pre-approved credit applications.
- Reducing junk mail.
- Monitoring check systems to ensure no new account is opened.
- Fixing the problem if your identity is still compromised.
LifeLock protects your good name and even the future of your children. Now, you know who you can turn to get qualified help and prevent your ID from being compromised.
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