 Reduce Your Risk of Identity Theft
Develop Good Habits
Unfortunately, there's no guarantee that you won't be a victim of identity
theft. But you can help minimize your risk by developing some new behaviors.
Most of these steps are easy and once you get in the habit, they'll become part
of your normal routine.
Twelve Steps to Protect Your Information
1. Guard your mail and trash from theft and shred documents or letters that
contain your personal information. Shred any documents containing personal
information that you no longer need.
2. Deposit potentially sensitive outgoing mail at the post office or in
collection boxes.
3. Carry only the identification and the credit and debit cards that you'll
actually need.
4. Secure personal information in your home, especially if you have roommates
or employ outside help. Believe it or not, even family members have been known
to steal personal information.
5. Keep your purse, wallet or forms with sensitive data in a safe place at
work.
6. Don't give out personal information on the phone, through the mail or over
the Internet unless you've initiated the contact. Identity thieves may pose as
representatives of banks, Internet service providers (ISPs) and even government
agencies to get you to reveal information.
7. Don't use personal information, like your Social Security number, as a
password on any accounts.
8. If your state uses your Social Security number as your driver's license
number, ask to substitute another number. Do the same if your health insurance
company or financial service provider uses it as your account number.
9. Ask about security and disposal procedures in your workplace and at offices
and businesses that collect your personal information.
10. Order copies of your credit report every year from each of the three major
credit-reporting agencies or through AnnualCreditReport.com (see inset). You
are entitled by law to one free report each year, so take advantage of this
important program.
11. Make a list of all of your credit card and bank account numbers with
customer service numbers and keep them in a safe place.
12. Check financial statements promptly and report problems immediately. Follow
up with creditors if your bills don't arrive on time. It could mean a thief has
stolen your account and changed your billing address to cover his tracks. |
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