Check Your Credit Report Frequently

This is one of those good news, bad news thangs. If you are lucky enough these days not to be underwater on your mortgage, and actually have (gasp!) a substantial chunk of equity in your home, that’s a good thing. But it also means you’re vulnerable to identity thieves.

Home equity lines are a favorite option because they are almost as easy to open as a credit card account, as long as a criminal has the proper financial information. A criminal can snatch this in a number of ways, which include stealing your wallet or worse, going through your trash and finding discarded documents with Social Security numbers and other identification.

To protect yourself, keep an eye on your credit report. You have the right to see a free copy of your credit report once a year. To ask for a copy, go to www.annualcreditreport.com. Photo: liewcf on flickr.)