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Here
are just a few suggestions to help you protect your privacy and
reduce your risk of becoming a victim of identity theft:
- Provide
your Social Security number only when absolutely necessary and
don't carry your card in your wallet.
- Tear
up or shred any documents that contain personal information,
such as bills, bank statements, credit card receipts, etc. before
throwing them away.
- Carry
only the credit cards and identification that you need.
- Periodically
check your credit report.
- When
creating passwords and PINs, avoid using the last 4 digits of
your Social Security number, your birth date, your phone number,
or a series of consecutive numbers.
- Review
your credit card and other financial statements each month to
check for any purchases you didn't make. Also, pay attention
to billing cycles. A bill that doesn't arrive on time may have
been redirected by an identity thief.
- Cancel,
in writing, credit cards that you rarely, if ever, use.
- Never
give out your credit card or bank account information over the
phone unless you have initiated the call or are familiar with
the company.
- Put
a lock on your mailbox, and if you can't, pick up your mail
as quickly as possible once it has been delivered. Also, drop
off letters containing personal information in more secure locations
such as the Post Office or a U.S. Postal Service box.
- Don't
leave printed receipts behind at ATM machines or gas pumps.
- Don't
put credit card information on a Web site that isn't secure.
- Write
the 3 major credit bureaus and ask to "Opt Out" of
the credit lists they sell. Call 1-800-567-8688. Be aware that
the option to "Opt Out" may expire in 2 years, so
you may want to make a note of this.
- If
you believe that you may already be a victim of identity theft,
act fast to minimize the damage.
Additional
Resources: To
Shred or Not to Shred. That is the Question. click
here What
You Can Do to Avoid Becoming a Victim of Identity Theft click
here
Identity
Theft and Fraud click
here
Identity
Theft IQ Test click
here
Scam
Alert: Watch Out for "Phishing" Emails Attempting to Capture
Your Personal Information click
here Identity
Theft Prevention Tips click
here
Identity
Theft is America's Fastest Growing Crime click
here
Wallet
and Purse Inventory Sheet click
here |
