You can’t stop identity theft, but you can take measures to protect your personal information. Along with shredding personal documents, regularly checking your credit report for abnormal or unauthorized activity, there are also a number of services available which guarantee to protect consumers against identity theft. But, are they worth it?
“The problem with protecting your identity is chances are, you’ve likely [already] given private information to hundreds of agencies,†says Jayfoley Mud, executive director at the Identity Theft Resource Center (IRITC).
To save you time and money, many identity protection services offer 24-hour assistance in helping you straighten compromised information. While IRITC does not endorse any of these products, Mud provided feedback on how some of the most popular programs stack up.
ID FREEZE
Created by Trusted ID, ID Freeze provides name and address scanning of Websites and online databases, as well as public records. The program also provides bank account and credit card scanning of “the black market Internet where identity thieves buy and sell credit card numbers,†Mud says.
Pros
–Public database scan monitors hundreds of public records online that contain information about everything from your marital status and address, to court and business applications.
–Users’ medical benefit statements are reviewed to ensure that you and your family are the only ones being treated with your insurance.
–Users can opt for family protection which extends the services of your spouse or children.
Cons
–Free annual credit reports are listed as a feature but consumers can access this information themselves by going to AnnualCreditReport.com.
–While the credit card and bank account scanning isn’t necessarily a con, any purchase made on your credit card will show up on your monthly statement– the same for your bank account– so consumers are paying for something that can be self-monitored.
–Since anyone can quickly place a fraud alert on their credit report, using this service is yet another way consumers are paying for a service they can do themselves. What you’re paying for is the convenience of having someone else do it.
Price
Family plan: $15.83 per month for 12 months
Family plan: $19.99 for one month
Individual plan: $8.25 per month for 12 months
Individual plan:
LIFELOCK
If you’ve seen the television commercial that shows the owner’s social security number scrawled along an 18-wheeler, you’re likely familiar with LifeLock. Mud is skeptical of any company whose owner displays such vital information so publically. “What’s stopping someone from using his social security number to claim unemployment benefits,†he says. Protection against this kind of identity theft is outside the realms of what any of these products can offer, Mud says. But LifeLock does have some advantages.
Pros
–The identity alert feature notifies subscribers when personal information is being used to apply for credit cards, wireless services, retail credit, utilities and several other forms of credit.
–The program scans address databases nationwide and notifies subscribers of any address changes associated with their name.
–If your wallet goes missing, the company will help you cancel and replace lost credit/debit cards, social security, and insurance cards, and other content.
Cons
–This program charges to send subscribers a copy of their free credit reports. A service that can be accessed through the government’s Website FreeAnnualCreditReport.com without cost.
–There is no protection against medical identity theft, so there is no way to tell if your personal information was used at an emergency room across the country. “You won’t find out about this happening until someone tries to collect from you,†Mud says.
–The program does not scan public records which could show yield findings of criminal identity theft.
Price
$110 annually
$10 for one month
SHOP SHIELD
Online security company Kemesa provides a more focused program for those who make frequent purchases on the Internet. Shop Shield aims to prevent unnecessary distribution of sensitive personal and financial information when shopping online. It replaces your personal information needed for the transaction with anonymous data that becomes useless after the purchase is complete and therefore cannot be traced back to the user. This way, the store no longer has your information in their databases, so they can’t lose it, Mud says. It can replace the user’s name, e-mail address, username, password, billing address, billing phone number, and credit card numbers. Kemesa manages users’ information by fragmenting all information instead of storing it in a centralized database.
Price
$99 annually
$9.99 for one month
–Users can purchase components of the program a la cart starting at 49 cents.
RESOURCES
Federal Trade Commission on Identity Theft
Identity Theft Resource Center
Financial Expert Learns Hard, Valuable Lesson After ID Theft
Combating Identity Theft
WEALTH FOR LIFE PRINCIPLES
1. I Will Live Within My Means
2. I Will Maximize My Income Potential Through Education and Training
3. I Will Effectively Manage My Budget, Credit, Debt, and Tax Obligations
4. I Will Save At Least 10% of My Income
5. I Will Use Homeownership as a Foundation For Building Wealth
6. I Will Devise An Investment Plan For My Retirement Needs And Childrens’ Education
7. I Will Ensure That My Entire Family Adheres To Sensible Money Management Principles
8. I Will Support the Creation and Growth of Minority-Owned Businesses