September 7, 2009
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ID Score; Whoever Heard Of It?, Pt.3
Get your ID Score free of chargeRecently ID Analytics has made their website available to credit card customers who would like to obtain their ID Score. Individuals may access their score free of charge twice every 14 days. Although credit card customers must pay to obtain their credit score, ID Analytics allows individuals to check their ID Score free of charge. Since the company has a continuous flow of information, individuals should get into the habit of checking their score at least once a month. The site can be accessed at www.myidscore.com and is very user friendly. The myidscore clearly identifies how to begin checking your ID Score. You'll need to enter your name, address, home phone, work phone, email address, and date of birth. The site asks for your Social Security Number (SSN), but it is not required to obtain the score. In most circumstances, not entering a SSN will not prevent you from receiving your score. However, on occasion a credit card customer may not be able to obtain without it.
The ID Score ranges from 1 to 999 with an average score of 300. The higher the score, the greater risk an individual is to id theft. Most diffidently you should be concerned about any score greater than 600. All Americans should take a proactive stance in protecting his identity and credit card information; however, it is imperative that any individual who discovers his ID Score to be over 600 should investigate further. He should review his credit history; review all bank statements and credit card accounts; and sign up with all three credit reporting agencies for fraud alert and a freeze on his credit file.
It is important to understand that having a higher score doesn't mean you have been a victim of identity or credit card theft. It is merely a red flag that activity from your file appears unusual and needs further investigation. Only about 5% of those who check, experience scores that indicate they are at risk for identity theft. In these cases, the site makes recommendations on measures the individual can take to protect himself. Likewise, if an individual's score is low, it is not a guarantee that they have not become victim of theft. All individuals should be taking the necessary steps on a regular basis to check his bank and card statements as well as thoroughly examine his credit history on a regular basis.