HINTS FROM HELOISE

Dear Readers:

Identity theft can be devastating to your credit rating. When your personal information is used to commit fraud or other crimes, it can affect your life, too. According to the Federal Trade Commission, there are signs you should be aware of that might signal trouble, such as:

Bills that don't arrive when expected.

Unusual credit cards or account statements.

Denial of credit for unknown reasons.

Calls or letters about purchases you haven't made.

To help prevent identity theft, you should:

Shred all financial documents with your personal information.

Give out your Social Security number only when absolutely necessary, or ask if some other form of identification can be used.

Never give out personal information on the phone, through the mail or online unless you know whom you're dealing with.

Don't use obvious passwords like your birth date, mother's maiden name or the last four digits of your Social Security number.

To be on the safe side, request a free credit report from one of the major credit reporting companies by visiting http://www.AnnualCreditReport.com or calling 877-322-8228. If you'd like, you can write to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, Ga. 30348-5281.