In 2020, there were over 1.3 million identity theft reports made to the FTC. Credit card fraud was the second most common type of theft with 28% of the complaints.

You don’t want to have to deal with credit card fraud — it can cost you thousands of dollars and countless hours of heartache. Instead, sign up with a high-quality credit monitoring service so that you can rest easy knowing that your information is secure.

How do you know you’ve found one of the best credit monitoring services? Here are three criteria to look for.

Regular Credit Reports and Scores

Consumers are entitled to one credit report every three years from each of the three major credit bureaus. That means if you rotate which one you request from, you can get a credit report each year. However, this does not include your credit score, so you’re still in the dark about how you might look to a lender.

The Best Credit Monitoring Services understand that a lot can happen in a year, especially when it comes to identity theft. That’s why more regular credit reports — and your credit score — are included in the best plans. For example, with IdentityIQ Secure Max you can get your credit report and score every month.

Monitoring of the Dark Web

When thieves steal your credit information, they don’t set up a public website and sell it to whomever comes along. That would be a recipe for getting arrested by the police! Instead, they go to the dark web, which is the internet equivalent of a black market.

The dark web can only be accessed using a specific browser and the users take care to completely hide their identity and location so they can’t be caught. It’s a place where illegal activity happens often and it’s easy to get hacked or taken advantage of.

Because thieves use the dark web to sell personal information, high-quality monitoring services will monitor the dark web to ensure your data doesn’t appear there.

Reimbursement for Stolen Funds

One of the most frightening things about identity theft and credit card fraud is that it can financially ruin you. Not only do you have the chance that you’ll lose money directly to a thief, but the amount of time and money it takes to solve the problem can be significant.

If you’re looking for the best credit monitoring services, find an option that gives you financial protection as well as peace of mind. IdentityIQ products include up to $1 million in stolen funds reimbursement to help with stolen money, legal fees, and miscellaneous expenses.

How Safe is Your Credit?

Your credit rating is an essential part of your life, affecting everything from buying or renting a home to how much you pay for car insurance. It pays to protect yourself from scammers and thieves looking to steal your personal information.

If you want the best credit monitoring services, look for regular credit reports and scores, a service that monitors the dark web, and direct financial protection. We make it easy for you — simply sign up with IdentityIQ today!