We are receiving information from our companies that IDENTITY THEFT is now the number one complaint received from consumers today. The United States Department of Justice estimates that up to 700,000 people are victimized by identity theft every year. The average victim incurs $1,000 in out-of-pocket expenses and spends over 175 hours working to restore his or her good name.

Our company’s response to this complaint is that they are now offering an endorsement that can be added to your homeowners policy to cover expenses incurred as a result of the theft of the policyholder’s identity. The average cost of this endorsement is $25.00 a year. Expenses that would be covered would be attorney fees, lost wages up to a maximum per day for a number of days, loan application fees and notary costs. Most endorsements have a $250 deductible; however, every carrier offers different limits and special features to make their endorsement attractive.

If you would like to learn more information about this new coverage, please contact our agency today.

Identity Theft Prevention Tips:

• Order copies of your credit report annually from www.creditreport.com
• Keep items with personal information in a safe place
• Release your Social Security number ONLY when necessary
• Carry only the minimal identification information and cards needed
• Do not give out personal information on the phone, through the mail or over the internet unless you have initiated the contact or know who you are dealing with