Preventing
Identity Theft
Identity theft
affects all of us - even if we are not personally a victim of identity
theft. The loss to individuals is high, but the losses to institutions
and businesses is transferred to each of us as consumers.
In addition
to financial loss, identity theft can negatively affect your credit
rating, making it more difficult to purchase a car or home, and
much more.
Taking some
simple steps can help you reduce your chances of becoming a victim.
Some suggestions
were shared with our staff, and we now share them with you:
1. The next
time you order checks have only your initials (instead of first
name) and last name put on them. If someone takes your
checkbook, they will not know if you sign your checks with just
your initials or your first name, but your bank will know how you
sign your checks.
2. Do not sign
the back of your credit cards. Instead, put "PHOTO ID REQUIRED".
3. When you
are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put
the complete account number on the "For" line. Instead,
just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the
rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check
as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have
access to it.
4. Put your
work phone # on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have
a PO Box use that instead of your home address. If you do not have
a PO Box, use your work address. Never have your SS# printed on
your checks. You can add it if it is necessary. But if you have
it printed, anyone can get it.
5. Place the
contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of
each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your
wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call
and cancel.
Keep the photocopy
in a safe, secure place place.
6. When you
check out of a hotel that uses cards for keys (and they all seem
to do that now), don't turn the "keys" in. Take them with
you and destroy them. Those little cards have on them all of the
information you gave the hotel, including address and credit card
numbers and expiration dates. Someone with a card reader, or employee
of the hotel, can access all that information with no problem whatsoever.
Some other tips
include:
1. When using
a debit card at the ATM or to pay at a store, use your body to shield
the transaction from onlookers. Don't let others see your card number
or PIN number.
2. Only purchase
online from reputable, secure sites.
3. Do not give
out any personal information to someone you do not know and trust.
4. Do not give
out account information in response to emails from known companies
such as AOL or Ebay claiming your account information needs to be
updated. Often these look very authentic, but the practice is known
as "phishing" and is a great way to use your identity
and/or charge to your credit card.
5. If you receive
notification that you won a contest you never entered, beware. Unless
you can verify that this was a legitimate contest, do not give out
any personal information. Most are scams, or may be sales techniques
for vacation properties, etc. Be sure to get the details and verify
the legitimacy of any offer.
6. Cut up used
cards; shred mail no longer needed that has credit card, social
security number or other personally identifying information. For
paperwork you retain, store it in a secure location.
7. If you are
away, arrange for a trusted friend or relative to pick up your mail
as soon after delivery as possible, or have your mail held by the
post office.
8. Request a
copy of your credit rating regularly. Most credit reporting companies
allow you at least one free copy of your credit report. It is better
to find an error or problem before you need to send a copy to a
potential lender.
Resources
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