Preventing identity theft is your first line of defense. By taking a few simple precautions you can save yourself from dealing with the headaches caused by having your identity stolen. Clearing inaccuracies off your credit report can take months or years while you try to prove that you are not responsible for the fraudulent activity in your name.
All that a thief needs is your name, address, and Social Security number to do damage. If you don’t already have one, get a paper shredder. Small, inexpensive ones are available. And use it for any mail you dispose of that contains sensitive information.
Once a year, order your credit report from all three credit reporting agencies. Make certain there are no inaccuracies.
Read your account and credit card statements as soon as they arrive. Look for unauthorized transactions. If your bills don’t arrive on time, follow up with creditors. A
missing
credit card bill could mean an ID thief has control of your credit card account and changed your billing address.
Keep your Social Security number off your checks and driver’s license and out of your wallet or purse. Unless absolutely necessary, do not divulge your Social Security
number to anyone.
Only carry your extra credit cards, birth certificate, or passport with you when you
need to. Use as few credit cards as you can.
Secure personal information in your home, especially if you have roommates or employ outside help of service workers.
When you need new checks, order them with your first initial and last name only. A thief won’t know how you sign them and will be foiled.
Photocopy both sides of your driver’s license, ATM, credit, debit, and health insurance cards, and any other items you carry, and put the copies in a safe place. You’ll have the phone numbers you’ll need in case your wallet or purse is stolen.
Don’t provide, or confirm, personal information to a telephone solicitor unless you initiated the call. Before releasing personal data, learn how it is to be used or if it will be shared with others.
Retrieve your mail from your box as soon as you can. Keep a lock on it. Put outgoing mail in post office collection boxes. If you’re going away for a period of
time, call your local post offi ce and request a hold.
See about having passwords or extra security protection put on your credit card, credit union, and telephone company accounts.
Choose passwords and PINs that are not predictable. Avoid using the last four digits of your Social Security number, your middle name, or birth date.
Don’t keep passwords or PINs in your purse or wallet.
Shield your PIN from curious onlookers when using an ATM.
Once a year, order your Social Security Earnings and Benefits Statement from the Social Security Administration to verify that your information is accurate.
If you plan to provide personal information online, make sure the site displays a locked padlock symbol in the lower right corner of your browser, ensuring it has an encrypted connection. Don’t deal with sites that ask for more than your name, address, phone number, and credit card number.
Regularly update your virus protection software.
Don’t download fi les sent by strangers or click on hyperlinks from e-mail senders you don’t know.
Install a fi re wall program, especially important for a high-speed Internet connection, to prevent hackers from getting to your computer.
Be careful about storing financial information on your laptop computer. Often they are stolen for the information they contain.
Before you throw out any compact disks, check for any that may contain personal information such as Social Security number or PINs and destroy them.
Each of the three major credit reporting agencies has its own credit monitoring service "available for a fee" which sends you e-mail alerts of any credit activity posted to your file.
images/.png" width="200" border="0" alt="22 Ways to Help Prevent Identity Theft From Happening to You - April 09, 2009" title="22 Ways to Help Prevent Identity Theft From Happening to You - April 09, 2009" align="left" class="newsimage" />Preventing identity theft is your first line of defense. By taking a few simple precautions you can save yourself from dealing with the headaches caused by having your identity stolen. Clearing inaccuracies off your credit report can take months or years while you try to prove that you are not responsible for the fraudulent activity in your name.
All that a thief needs is your name, address, and Social Security number to do damage. If you don’t already have one, get a paper shredder. Small, inexpensive ones are available. And use it for any mail you dispose of that contains sensitive information.
Once a year, order your credit report from all three credit reporting agencies. Make certain there are no inaccuracies.
Read your account and credit card statements as soon as they arrive. Look for unauthorized transactions. If your bills don’t arrive on time, follow up with creditors. A
missing
credit card bill could mean an ID thief has control of your credit card account and changed your billing address.
Keep your Social Security number off your checks and driver’s license and out of your wallet or purse. Unless absolutely necessary, do not divulge your Social Security
number to anyone.
Only carry your extra credit cards, birth certificate, or passport with you when you
need to. Use as few credit cards as you can.
Secure personal information in your home, especially if you have roommates or employ outside help of service workers.
When you need new checks, order them with your first initial and last name only. A thief won’t know how you sign them and will be foiled.
Photocopy both sides of your driver’s license, ATM, credit, debit, and health insurance cards, and any other items you carry, and put the copies in a safe place. You’ll have the phone numbers you’ll need in case your wallet or purse is stolen.
Don’t provide, or confirm, personal information to a telephone solicitor unless you initiated the call. Before releasing personal data, learn how it is to be used or if it will be shared with others.
Retrieve your mail from your box as soon as you can. Keep a lock on it. Put outgoing mail in post office collection boxes. If you’re going away for a period of
time, call your local post offi ce and request a hold.
See about having passwords or extra security protection put on your credit card, credit union, and telephone company accounts.
Choose passwords and PINs that are not predictable. Avoid using the last four digits of your Social Security number, your middle name, or birth date.
Don’t keep passwords or PINs in your purse or wallet.
Shield your PIN from curious onlookers when using an ATM.
Once a year, order your Social Security Earnings and Benefits Statement from the Social Security Administration to verify that your information is accurate.
If you plan to provide personal information online, make sure the site displays a locked padlock symbol in the lower right corner of your browser, ensuring it has an encrypted connection. Don’t deal with sites that ask for more than your name, address, phone number, and credit card number.
Regularly update your virus protection software.
Don’t download fi les sent by strangers or click on hyperlinks from e-mail senders you don’t know.
Install a fi re wall program, especially important for a high-speed Internet connection, to prevent hackers from getting to your computer.
Be careful about storing financial information on your laptop computer. Often they are stolen for the information they contain.
Before you throw out any compact disks, check for any that may contain personal information such as Social Security number or PINs and destroy them.
Each of the three major credit reporting agencies has its own credit monitoring service "available for a fee" which sends you e-mail alerts of any credit activity posted to your file.
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Preventing identity theft is your first line of defense. By taking a few simple precautions you can save yourself from dealing with the headaches caused by having your identity stolen. Clearing inaccuracies off your credit report can take months or years while you try to prove that you are not responsible for the fraudulent activity in your name.
