Preventing Identity Theft

 Although you can never completely control whether or not you will become a victim of identity theft, there are several things you can do to help prevent it.

1.    Request a free copy of your credit report. According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you are entitled to a credit report from each of the major nationwide consumer reporting companies once every twelve months, at your request. You can order your free annual report at www.annualcreditreport.com or call 877-322-8228. You can also request a free copy if a company takes adverse action against you. You must request the report within 60 days of the action.

2.    Place passwords on your credit card, bank account, and phone. Don’t use information that is easily accessible like your mother’s maiden name or your birth date.

3.    Make sure personal information in your home is in a secure place, not accessible to roommates or outside help.

4.    When giving personal information to businesses, doctor’s offices, or other institutions, ask about their security procedures. Find out who will have access to the information, what the disposal procedures are, and how your information will be kept confidential.

5.    Never give out personal information over the phone, through the mail, or through the Internet unless you know who you are in contact with. Check an agencies’ validity by typing their URL into the address line instead of just cutting and pasting it.

6.    Take care when disposing of trash and mail. Always shred charge receipts, copies of credit card applications, physicians statements, insurance forms, checks and bank statements, expired charge cards, and credit card offers.

7.    Keep your Social Security Number in a safe place. Do not carry it with you.

8.    Only give out your social security number if it’s absolutely necessary. For state identifiers, such as driver’s license numbers, ask to use another number.

9.    Only carry with you the credit or debit cards and the identification that you will need when you go out.

10.           Keep your purse or wallet in a safe place at work.

11.           Do not have new checks delivered directly to your home. Instead, opt to pick them up at the bank.

12.           Be cautious when responding to promotions. Identity thieves create fake promotions to get personal information from you.