Here are ways to Protect yourself from Identity Theft
• Shred financial documents and paperwork with personal information before you discard them.
• Protect your Social Security number. Don't carry your Social Security card in your wallet or write you Social Security number on a check ever. Give it out only if absolutely necessary or ask to use another identifier.
• Don't give out personal information over the telephone, through the mail, or over the Internet unless you know who you are dealing with directly.
• Never click on links sent in unsolicited emails; instead, type the web address you know. Use firewalls, anti-spy-ware, and anti-virus software to protect your home computer; keep them up-to-date. Visit On Guard Online for more information.
• Don't use an obvious password like your birth date, your mother's maiden name, or the last four digits of your Social Security number.
• Keep your personal information in a secure place at home, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help, or are having work done in your house.
•Be alert to signs that require immediate attention such as, bills that do not arrive as expected, unexpected credit cards or account statements, denials of credit or for no apparent reason, calls or letters about purchases you did not make as well.
• Inspect your credit report yearly from either Experian, TransUnion or Equifax. Visit Annual Credit Repot or call 1-877-322-8228, a service created by these three companies, to order your free credit reports each year.
• Review all financial statements and billing statements regularly, looking for charges you did not make and take care of them right away. Report your concerns to ftc.gov/idtheft, then file a police report right away.
Here are common ways ID theft happens:
1. Dumpster Diving: They rummage through trash looking for bills or other paper with your personal information on it.
2. Skimming: They steal credit/debit card numbers by using a special storage device when processing your card.
3. Phishing: They pretend to be financial institutions or companies and send a private message to you or pop-up messages to get you to reveal your personal information.
4. Changing your address: They divert your billing statements to another location by completing a "change of address" form.
5. "Old-Fashioned" Stealing: They steal your wallets and purses; mail, including bank and credit card statements; pre-approved credit offers; and new checks or tax information. They steal personnel records from their employers, or bribe employees who have access to these documents.
• Protect your Social Security number. Don't carry your Social Security card in your wallet or write you Social Security number on a check ever. Give it out only if absolutely necessary or ask to use another identifier.
• Don't give out personal information over the telephone, through the mail, or over the Internet unless you know who you are dealing with directly.
• Never click on links sent in unsolicited emails; instead, type the web address you know. Use firewalls, anti-spy-ware, and anti-virus software to protect your home computer; keep them up-to-date. Visit On Guard Online for more information.
• Don't use an obvious password like your birth date, your mother's maiden name, or the last four digits of your Social Security number.
• Keep your personal information in a secure place at home, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help, or are having work done in your house.
•Be alert to signs that require immediate attention such as, bills that do not arrive as expected, unexpected credit cards or account statements, denials of credit or for no apparent reason, calls or letters about purchases you did not make as well.
• Inspect your credit report yearly from either Experian, TransUnion or Equifax. Visit Annual Credit Repot or call 1-877-322-8228, a service created by these three companies, to order your free credit reports each year.
• Review all financial statements and billing statements regularly, looking for charges you did not make and take care of them right away. Report your concerns to ftc.gov/idtheft, then file a police report right away.
Here are common ways ID theft happens:
1. Dumpster Diving: They rummage through trash looking for bills or other paper with your personal information on it.
2. Skimming: They steal credit/debit card numbers by using a special storage device when processing your card.
3. Phishing: They pretend to be financial institutions or companies and send a private message to you or pop-up messages to get you to reveal your personal information.
4. Changing your address: They divert your billing statements to another location by completing a "change of address" form.
5. "Old-Fashioned" Stealing: They steal your wallets and purses; mail, including bank and credit card statements; pre-approved credit offers; and new checks or tax information. They steal personnel records from their employers, or bribe employees who have access to these documents.
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