If you’ve ever been a victim of identity theft, you know first hand the stress and problems it can cause. With the current economic crisis, there are online and offline predators who are taking advantage of this situation by coming up with new ways to steal your identity.
To avoid becoming a statistic, here are some suggestions:
1. Remove the address and telephone number from your checks. Instead of first name, middle initial, and last name on the checks, change it to initials plus last name only. This will prevent anyone from trying to forge your checks.
2. Never send out a check with your social security on it.
3. If your bank provides the checks, be sure to order them from the bank only and not online.
4. When paying bills with a check, especially credit cards, write in the last four digits of your account – never the entire account number.
5. Do not carry your savings account passbook with you. Keep it at home and only use it when making deposits or withdrawals.
6. Make photocopies of your license and credit cards. Keep your social security card at home. Also photocopy any other important information you regularly carry with you.
7. If you use an ATM, memorize the number. Do not take out a slip of paper with the PIN number written on it. With cell phone cameras, anyone can easily snap a picture of the number.
8. Any mail received that you wish to discard, do not just throw it in the trash. Buy an inexpensive shredder, and destroy all mail with your name and address on it. This is especially important for credit card offers you receive in the mail.
9. Never leave posted mail for the mail carrier to pick up. Anyone can take mail out of your mailbox and use the enclosed information. If you have a bill to mail, drop it in the appropriate mailbox or take it to the Post Office.
10. If you receive an email from anyone you do not know, delete it. If you receive an email claiming to be from a bank, PayPal, eBay or any other institution with whom you do business stating that your account has been frozen, cancelled, or needs to be updated, do not click on the links in the email. Instead, delete the email and check out the information by typing in the URL to your online account.
11. Check your credit reports annually with each of the three agencies: Experian, Equifax, and Trans Union. Make sure no new accounts have been opened and that all the information provided is accurate. If not, call or write to each agency and report the problems.
12. If your wallet is ever stolen, immediately contact the credit card companies, the bank, and the credit report agencies. If your social security card was stolen as well, you can ask the agencies to place a “fraud alert” on the number as well as your name. Also contact the FTC and file a complaint at: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/
13. If you shop online, ensure that the website is well known and encrypted for your protection. Look for the lock at the lower right hand corner of the website.
14. Never give out any personal information or your social security number to anyone either online or off line.
If someone wants to hack into your information, they will find a way. But, if you utilize all of the safeguards mentioned above and buy the best anti-virus and firewall software available, the chances of anyone obtaining your personal information is considerably weakened.
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