Tip: Ways to Avoid Identity Theft

Concerned about working online? Worried about identity theft?
Here's a few tips to help protect yourself and your family.

  1. Check your credit report annually (annualcreditreport.com)
    a. You may receive one free report from each of the three bureaus every year. It is recommended that you choose a different bureau once every four months. You will have to enter your social security number at this safe site to receive the information.
    b. There is a fee if you wish to get your credit score.
  2. Use caution with e-mail - Avoid unfamiliar e-mails and be very cautions about e-mail with Internet links or attached documents
  3. Keep your computers secure
    a. Keep your operating system up to date
    b. Personal firewall - free - zonelabs.com
    c. Virus protection - free - grissoft.com
    d. Anti-spyware - free - lavasoft.com or spybot.com
  4. Stop receiving convenience checks - Call your credit card company and ask them not to mail or shred those that you receive
  5. Stop mailed credit offers - Or shred those that you receive
  6. Avoid telephone scams - Never give caller personal information if you did not make the call. Remind others, especially the elderly, about scams.
  7. Buy a home shredder - Shred anything with any personal information that is to be disposed, especially old checks, statements, tax returns, etc.
  8. Buy a secure mailbox - or use a PO Box. Never leave outgoing bills in an unsecured street mailbox.
  9. Request privacy policies - from anyone that you give confidential information to. The privacy policy tells you what they will do with your information. If they give or sell information to third parties ask to "opt-out."
  10. Stay informed - Google yourself to see what, if any, information is "out there" on you.
  11. Use the Internet, but with caution
    a. Pay bills on-line (safe and avoid sending checks through the mail)
    b. Use credit, not debit cards, for online purchases
    c. Expect stronger security measure from bank web sites (additional passwords, security phrases, etc.)
    d. Look for secure site when purchasing online. Look for "https://" in web site address (the "s" stands for "secure") and the lock icon on the task bar.
    e. Be very cautious about "pop-up" web pages that you did not open
  12. Copy the contents of your wallet - front and back of all cards, etc. If your wallet is stolen you will know what was in it and who to contact.
  13. Watch for your bank and credit card statements - If they do not arrive in the mail within reasonable time call the financial institution. They may have been taken from your mailbox or your address may have been fraudulently changed in order to hide unauthorized charges.

Excellent information is available at http://www.ftc.gov/idtheft about Avoiding Identity Theft. This is the Federal Trade Commission's site.


What to do if you are a victim:

  1. If you recognize a credit/debit card charges that you did not authorize, call company immediately and identify fraudulent charges! If you suspect that your personal information has been compromised or that some has used your personal information to establish credit:
  2. File a police report (necessary for seven year alert with credit bureaus)
  3. Call one of the three credit bureaus - place a ninety day fraud alert
    o One call triggers all three
    o Review credit reports (you'll receive after fraud alert)
    o Send policy report by certified letter to all three
    o Request documentation of fraud (credit application, receipts, etc.)
  4. Close fraudulent accounts immediately
  5. Remember, time is not on your side!!!

Credit Bureau Contact Information

Experian
(888) 397-3742
experian.com

Equifax
(888) 766-0008
equifax.com

Trans Union
(800) 888-4213
transunion.com


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