It’s in the news.  It may have occurred to a friend or a family member.  Odds are, it can also happen to you.  Identity theft has affected the lives of over eight million Americans according to the 2007 Identity Fraud Survey Report from the Javelin strategy and research firm.  How can you protect yourself against identity theft?The first place you can look is to your existing homeowner’s insurance policy.  Depending on your insurance provider and your policy, you may have an identity theft clause.  This protection typically comes at no additional cost you and usually provides a fraud specialist.  This specialist can help you to restore and protect your identity in the event of theft.

If your current policy doesn’t have an identity theft clause, your insurance company may offer an identity theft rider or endorsement policy.  For an additional cost this rider can be added to a homeowner’s insurance policy.  An identity theft rider will cover any expenses accrued during the process of restoring your credit.

Another area of coverage can come from your credit cards.  In addition to checking your homeowner’s insurance for identify theft coverage, be sure to check what coverage your credit card companies can offer in case you have your identity stolen.  By knowing what coverage you already have under your homeowner’s insurance or credit card agreements, as well as your options if you need to add an identify theft rider, you will be better able to protect yourself in the event your identity is stolen.

NOTE: The purpose of this article is to provide general information on the law, which is subject to change.  If you have a specific legal problem, you may want to consult your lawyer.  For any auto insurance related questions, you may wish to consult your insurance company or insurance agent.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein.  No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.