It’s that time of year already.  The mailbox is filled with bright, glossy catalogs to tempt us into spending some of our holiday dollars with their company.  Gorgeous color pictures, big splashy banners touting “free shipping” or “other discounts with purchase” cover the pages.

Many of these catalogs get thrown in the trash or the recycle bin.  But before you toss it, you may want to consider your credit rating.            

How are these connected?   Well, your name and address are most likely on the back of the catalog along with your customer number.  Remember, reducing the amount of personal information that is out there is a great step toward identity theft prevention.  This is an easy section to tear off and shred before tossing.

But, you’re not done.  Most catalogs have an order form in the middle section.  And that order form is probably already filled out with your name, address, etc.  Some catalogs even include the “You’re PreApproved” section which gives you a credit account just for ordering with the company.

Be sure to tear out and shred the order form section of the catalog, too.  By leaving it in, an identity thief can open a fraudulent account with your “PreApproved” offer that can be the first step toward you becoming a victim.

Learn more about Identity Theft Prevention here.  And be Credit Wise.