Identity Theft Prevention Basics: What You Can Do Now!

Without a doubt, identity theft and identity fraud-related activities have risen dramatically over the past several years. But commonsense care in guarding your sensitive info can go a long way in reducing the odds of identity theft happening to you.

Here are the basics:

• Create a list of all your credit card account numbers and bank account numbers (or photocopy) along with customer service phone numbers, and keep in a safe place along with your other important papers. 
• Memorize social security numbers and passwords 
• Protect your passwords and PINs (Personal Identification Numbers).  In other words, try to avoid using available information such as your mother’s maiden name, your date of birth, any portion of your social security number or even your pet’s name.  It’s best to choose a password or PIN that would be difficult for anyone else to figure out. 
• Do not give personal information (e.g., account numbers, social security numbers) over the phone, through the mail or on the internet unless you initiated the contact and you know with whom you are dealing. 
• Shred, Shred, Shred. . . old ATM and credit card receipts, old account & insurance statements and unused credit card offers, BEFORE throwing them out.  In the case of expired credit cards, cut them in small pieces. 
• Empty your wallet of. . . credit cards and other identifying information that you don’t need to carry.  Unless necessary, do not carry your birth certificate, social security card, or passport. 
• Pay special attention to billing cycles and statements and inquire if you don’t receive a monthly bill. 
• Check all account statements carefully to make sure all charges, checks or withdrawals were authorized by you. 
• Guard your mail. . . If you don’t already have a locked mailbox, get one if possible.  In the event that a lockable box is not possible, adhere to the following: 
  • Retrieve your mail everyday.  If you have to go out of town, have someone you trust to retrieve it for you. 
  • Don’t leave outgoing mail, especially bill payments, in your home mailbox to be picked up by the postman.  A skilled identity thief can easily change the name of the payee on your check, with an acid wash.  It’s better to drop outgoing mail into an official postal box or at the post office. 
  • If you order pre-printed checks from your bank, have your order delivered to your bank, not to your home address. 
• When making a credit card purchase, do not put your address, telephone number, or driver's license number on the receipt. 
• Be aware of your surroundings if you have to speak about personal information in public (e.g., at a bank, in a doctor’s office, on a cell phone).  Also be watchful if anyone is lurking too close to you at an ATM or a retail store checkout counter when you’re entering your PIN or password. 
• If you are discarding an old computer, delete all files from your hard drive but also use a “wipe” utility program to overwrite the entire hard drive. 
• Avoid keeping personal financial data on your laptop, but if you must, consider using a “strong” password  (a combination of letters, numbers and symbols) to protect against unauthorized access to your computer. 

"Cyber" Identity Theft Prevention Basics

• Protect, Protect, Protect. . . your computer with a firewall, virus protection, anti-spyware…whatever software that will keep your computer safe from cyber-intruders. 
• Do not open emails sent to you by someone you don’t know. 
• Avoid using file-sharing programs. 
• Online shopping should only be done on an ecommerce site that provides secure encrypted payment processing as well as a clearly stated, acceptable privacy policy. 

And remember. . .

Order your credit report  at least once a year and review it carefully. If you see anything that appears fraudulent, immediately place a fraud alert on your reports. 

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Become Credit Report Savvy to find out how to use this important tool in your identity theft prevention efforts.