by : James Johnson

A trip to your mailbox seems simple enough, you walk outside, open the mailbox lid, and pull out your mail, case solved, your mail has been found. Of course there is the entire issue of identity theft, and the hours you could spend fighting to have your credit restored. I know, a drastic cliffhanger is not why you're reading this article, but the truth is the case above happens on a daily basis to individuals all over the country. The culprit? "Pre-approved" credit card offers from Visa, Mastercard, Discover and even American Express.

While it is true that the real hard copy plastic credit cards are no longer sent to recipients, the simple acknowledgement can be enough for an identity theif to search out information on you and your loved ones. Sometimes "dumpster diving" that is the act of going through your trash. Sometimes it occurs through email scams when they search you out on the internet and have some of your information, such as the pre-approval credit card name on hand. Either way they have an in, and they will use it to their advantage.

Luckily, there is a way for you to assure that safety to your identity is at least slightly more secure. According to the answer is the credit card Opt-out program, a program often described as the "do-not-call" list of the credit card industry, actually it should be the "do-not call, do not-mail, in fact just don't" list. But I digress

The program is simple to join, simply go to www.optoutprescreen.com and fill out the quick 60 second form. You have the option of choosing to opt-out for good, or for 5 years, which seems like a good options for those of us who are compulsive shoppers and won't need a new pair of shoes for more than a few years. After opting out all mailings will stop, and telemarketing calls not only from credit card issuers, but also from credit card merchants as well. And you can Opt-in to the mailings anytime by simply visiting the site again and opt-ing back in.

It isn't the solve all to credit card issues, but its a nice easy to follow step, and it can't hurt. After all credit protection in this day and age is increasingly hard to follow, and even a little help couldn't hurt, so unless you simply wait for your new instant approval, cash back, rewards card to arrive in the mail, I say, Opt-Out for the peace of mind and the added security it will bring

Good Luck

Opt-ing out,

James Johnson