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Identity Theft Prevention TipsIdentity theft prevention has become an absolute necessity in our day!When you consider the facts about identity theft, you will realize the importance of identity theft prevention and doing all you can to keep your personal information out of the hands of identity thieves, thus reducing your risk of becoming a victim of identity theft. FOLLOWING ARE SELECTED CATEGORIES WITH HELPFUL IDENTITY THEFT PREVENTION TIPS PROVIDED FOR EACH ONE: Account Statements & Bills• Open your statements and bills right away. Carefully examine your statements and every bill you receive. Make sure they are yours and the charges are those you made. If anything is not accurate, it could be a sign of identity theft. Report it immediately.• If your statements or bills do not arrive on time, call the institution immediately. It may mean that someone has changed contact information and has stolen your identity. • Keep your statements and bills in a secure location to keep your sensitive information away from where others can have access to them. Most surveys report that as much as 50% of identity theft is caused by family, relatives, friends, and domestic employees. Identity theft caused by relatives and friends often has a higher cost, requires more time to resolve, and is more difficult due to the relationships involved. • Shred all statements and bills that are no longer needed with a cross-cut or confetti-cut shredder. A good shredder is an important, low cost identity theft prevention measure. Checks• Do not have your Social Security Number, Credit Card Numbers, or Driver’s License Number written on your checks.• When ordering new checks, pick them up at your bank. Do not have them sent in the mail to your home. • Store canceled checks in a very safe place. When you dispose of old checks, use a cross-cut or confetti-cut shredder to destroy them. Never throw them in the trash can. Computer & Internet• Safeguard your computer and the personal information you have on it. Password protect your computer and any account numbers you have. Be careful who you allow to use your computer.Do you have unwanted or objectionable content on your computer? Click Here to clean your computer!
• Use passwords that are at least 8 characters long. Use upper case and lower case letters, numbers and special characters. Carefully guard your passwords and change them on a regular basis. It is inconvenient, but this adds extra identity theft prevention from hackers. Other companies back up your computer, KeepYouSafe.Com backs up your LIFE -- FREE! • When using a public computer to go online, be sure you sign out and close the browser so that no information is left behind and others cannot click back to view your private information. Be cautious when using public computers, other people’s computers, and any computer where you work. You don’t want to leave personal information behind that others may steal and use in fraudulent ways. • Be careful about sharing personal information. Do NOT give out personal information, account numbers, social security number, or private information unless you absolutely know who you are dealing with. It is best not to give out any information unless you are the one who made the contact for the purpose of doing so for necessary business. • Carefully guard any PINS (personal identification numbers), account numbers, and credit card numbers. Never send any of this information, financial information, or other personal information by e-mail. • Be cautious about emails. Do not open emails if you do not know who they are from. Check to see if your internet service provider protects you from spam and dangerous emails.
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• Be aware of “phishing” scams. Emails may be sent to you appearing to be from your bank, credit card company, or some other institution, even a government agency, requesting you to visit their web site, which looks like the real thing. Then you will be asked to provide personal, private information. DON’T DO IT! Legitimate businesses and organizations NEVER email you to requests such information.
• Be sure you have adequate virus protection, spam protection, spyware protection, etc., and keep them updated. A very good choice from a well known and trusted company in identity theft prevention is Norton. Visit Norton's Home & Home Office Store now.
• Don’t open files if you are unsure what they contain or who they are from.
• When getting rid of an old computer, be sure the hard drive has been adequately erased or "wiped" with a good utility program. Merely using the “delete” function will not remove files containing personal information from your hard drive and leaves you vulnerable to identity theft. • Use a secure browser. Using Wireless Hotspots? Read how to keep it safe.
• Set your computer to receive the updates from Microsoft so that you have the latest patches, security updates, and settings. • Be sure you are using a firewall to prevent outsiders from gaining access to your computer and private information. A router that is used to create a computer network in a home or office can act as a physical firewall since it can hide your IP address from prying eyes. Be sure it is turned on! Get Norton 360 - All-In-One-Security!
However, if you use a wireless router, you will need added security since any computer with a wireless connection in a nearby location could access your network, visit your computer, and steal vital information. At the very least, your wireless network should require a password to log in. Firewall software can also help prevent unauthorized access to your computer. Norton 360 uses a two-way firewall with online identity protection and web site authentication.
• Only conduct business with those companies that you know and trust because you will be giving them a certain amount of personal information. Safeguard your identity with Anonymizer Safe Surfing Suite™! Buy now and save $34.97!
• If you must provide your credit card number online, make certain your connection is secure. Most browsers display special icons, like a padlock or key, to indicate secure sites. Many merchants also inform you on their websites if they have added extra security measures. You may want to consider using a credit card company that offers “virtual” numbers that keeps your real number hidden and makes online shopping much safer, like Citibank or
Discover Card.
• Be careful of online marketers. If a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
• You may want to use alternate email addresses when conducting some business or when you go to certain web sites in order to prevent your real email address from being known by others and to prevent junk mail, spam, and provide more safety. • For more tips on online safety, visit
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Credit Cards• Credit cards are better than debit cards when it comes to identity theft protection. Debit cards add risk to your checking account and do not offer the fraud protection as a good credit card company. Check with your banking institution to see what their policy is regarding debit cards and identity theft.• Limit the number of cards you have in your name. Close the accounts of cards that you no longer use or seldom use. The fewer credit card accounts you have open the less exposure you have of identity theft. • Limit the number of cards that you carry with you at one time. Carry those cards that you actually need or plan on using or that you would need in an emergency. • Keep your credit card information in a safe place in your home and carefully guard your account numbers and PIN numbers. • Don’t let your credit card out of your sight. It is better to pay with cash when dining out than to have someone carry your card out of sight for even a few minutes. • Choose to go with paperless statements if possible. In other words, instead of having your bills mailed to you, have them emailed to you instead. • Make sure your credit card company has an early fraud monitoring system. • Know what the policy is regarding fraudulent purchases made with your card or card number. By law, you are only liable for the first $50.00 of fraudulent charges. However, some credit card companies protect you with a $0 liability for fraudulent charges. One such company is
Discover Card.
•Opt out of pre-approved credit card offers. Identity thieves can get their hands on these mailings and commit identity theft. You can opt out by calling 1-888-5OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688) or go online to
www.optoutprescreen.com
• Carefully look at each statement and make sure the charges are correct and the purchases are the ones you have actually made. Report immediately any unauthorized charges to your credit card company. • Pay close attention to your billing cycles and make sure your credit card statement is received each month. A missing bill may be an indication of identity theft. • Make photo copies of each card (front & back) and keep the copies in a very safe place in case your cards ever get stolen. • Keep your receipts. You never know when you might need one to make a return or to have proof of your purchases. Be sure to shred all old receipts! • Don’t allow any credit card number to be written on any check. TrustedID includes credit card monitoring as part of their service.
Credit Reports• You can place fraud alerts with all three of the major credit reporting agencies to prevent anyone from opening accounts in your name or making purchases on credit in your name:
Fraud Alerts are very effective in identity theft prevention! However, be aware that fraud alerts only last for 90 days, and must be renewed every 90 days for you to stay protected. An identity theft protection service can handle this for you.
• By law, you are allowed a free credit report from each of the three credit reporting agencies once per calendar year by calling toll free: 1-877-322-8228 or going online to
www.annualcreditreport.com.
Request your copies and carefully check each one to verify that the information is correct. If something is amiss, immediately call the agency to have it corrected. Click Here For Credit Monitoring
• Tell the credit reporting agencies that you don’t want unsolicited credit or insurance offers sent to you.
• Never mail anything, especially bills, from your own mailbox. Use a postal mailbox or mail your items at the post office. Outgoing mail from your own personal mailbox provides an easy opportunity for identity thieves.
• Have you name added to the name deletion list for the Direct Marketing Association’s Mail Preference Service used by nationwide marketers to opt-out of receiving junk mail by going to www.dmaconsumers.org/cgi/offmailinglist Note: There is a small fee.
• Keep your mail private in your home and do not let it sit out in the open for guests, friends, or repairmen to see.
• Be careful what you throw away! Do not put anything in the trash that has your name or any personal identifying information on it. Shred all documents with a cross-cut or confetti-cut shredder, then trash it.
• If there is a danger in your area of mail being stolen, you may consider getting your mail at the Post Office or get a locking mail box installed for extra security.
• If you order new checks, do not have them mailed to your home. Pick them up at the bank. Passwords and PINs (personal identification numbers)• When creating passwords or PINS, never use your Social Security Number, do not use even the last four digits of your Social Security Number, and do not use your birthdate, your address, your telephone number, your middle name, your pet’s name, your children’s names, your mother’s maiden name, or any other information that can be easily discovered by identity thieves.• Create passwords that uses letters and numbers, plus upper and lower case letters. This makes it many times harder for identity thieves to crack. • You can request your financial institutions to add extra security protection to your accounts by using an additional password or security code. Again, use something that others can not easily guess or find out. • Do not keep written passwords or PINS in your wallet or purse. And do not keep your passwords or PINS easily accessible on your desk or on a sticky note stuck to your computer screen. Memorize them or have them filed in a secure location. Though this may be inconvenient, it is better to be safe and secure rather than victimized! • Be cautious when giving a password or PIN over the phone, to someone at a counter, or when imputing it into a machine. Someone may be watching or listening. Personal Data• You can reduce the risk of your personal information being stolen by NOT carrying credit cards you don’t need or don’t plan to use, your Social Security Card, other cards with your personal information on them, your birth certificate, passwords, and other personal information in your wallet or purse. Do not leave such material in your vehicle either! Only take the cards, material, and information that you absolutely need.• Do not leave your purse unattended anywhere at anytime! Store your purse and any personal information in a very safe place when you are at work. • Remove your name from the marketing lists of the three credit reporting agencies–Equifax, Experian, and Transunion–by calling 1-888-5OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688) or go online to www.optoutprescreen.com This will limit the number of pre-approved offers you receive in your mailbox, thus limiting identity theft opportunities. • Sign up for the Federal Trade Commission’s National Do Not Call Registry at 1-888-382-1222 or go online to www.donotcall.gov and have your name added to the name deletion list used by nationwide marketers.
You can learn more about the Federal Trade Commission’s Do Not Call Registry at www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt107.shtm • Have you name added to the name deletion list for the Direct Marketing Association’s Mail Preference Service used by nationwide marketers to opt-out of receiving junk mail by going to www.dmaconsumers.org/cgi/offmailinglist There is a small fee. • Any opportunity you are given to opt-out of the sale or sharing of your financial or personal information by any institution with whom you do business, do it! Read this fact sheet,
www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs24-finpriv.htm
Phone• Don’t give personal information over the phone unless YOU made the call and know exactly who you are speaking to. Many identity thieves make official sounding calls and ask for you to verify your social security number, credit card number, checking account number, etc. in order to get you to give them that information voluntarily. Don’t be afraid to hang up on someone who calls you and asks for your information. Then, as soon as possible, call your institution they were claiming to be from to see if they actually called. Don’t use a number someone gives you if they called you, but use a number you know is an actual number for your institution.
• Place your name on the DO NOT CALL registry so that telemarketers do not call you by calling 1-888-382-1222 or go online to
www.donotcall.gov.
Purses and Wallets• Carefully guard your purse or wallet. Men can carry their wallet in their front pocket instead of their back pocket, which makes it safer. Women should never leave their purse unattended in a shopping cart, at a table in a restaurant, or in open view in a vehicle.• Only carry the credit cards that are necessary or that you plan to use. This will limit your liability in case your wallet or purse is lost or stolen.
• Never carry your social security card or social security number in your wallet or purse.
• Never carry PIN numbers or passwords in your wallet or purse. Social Security Number• You need to carefully guard your Social Security Number. Sometimes, business want to have your Social Security Number on file just for general record keeping. If a business asks you for your Social Security Number, ask them:
Be aware that your employer and financial institutions will probably need to have your social security number for wage and tax reporting purposes. You will also need to give your Social Security Number at special times, like when a credit check is being performed, you are applying for a loan, renting an apartment, or getting utilities turned on. But don’t just freely give out your Social Security Number just because someone asks you for it.
• Do not put your Social Security Number on your checks!
• Do not use your Social Security Number as an account number for anything!
• Be careful about giving out your Social Security Number. If you ever have to, don’t give it out loudly where other people can overhear it.
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Identity theft prevention involves many strategies and covers many areas. It may seem overwhelming at first. However, it is much too important for you to ignore! YOU must take an active role to prevent identity theft from happening to YOU. Begin now implementing these identity theft prevention strategies. You will be glad you did!
Go to Identity Theft Protection Services
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