Identity Theft Precautions

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Identity theft is a crime often committed without the victim's knowledge. In fact, victims may not know that their identity has been stolen until they are denied credit for no apparent reason or start getting bills from companies they do not recognize.

Identity theft is a crime perpetrated by a criminal who uses another's personal information to establish credit, purchase goods and services with existing credit cards, apply for new cards in the victim's name, drain bank accounts, or commit other crimes.

The experience can be devastating for victims; it can take years to restore a good credit record and even longer to clear a good name. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to protect your identity.

How to protect your Personal Information:

• Never give out personal information, especially your Social Security number, to anyone you can’t confirm has a legitimate purpose for asking for it.
• Do not give your Social Security number over a cellular or cordless phone.
• Do not carry your Social Security card, Social Security number, birth certificate or passport, unless necessary.
• Do not put your address, telephone number or driver’s license number on a credit card sales receipt.
• Social Security numbers or phone numbers should not be put on checks.
• Shred old receipts, credit applications, bank records, and any other personal documents before discarding them.

How to protect your Financial Information:

• Review your credit report regularly to be sure it's accurate and up to date.
• Keep important documents in a safe place, not in your wallet or car. Burglars are just as interested in credit cards, bank accounts and investment statements as they are in your other valuables.
• If monthly bank and credit card statements do not arrive in the mail, call the lender immediately.
• Keep a list of all credit cards and bank accounts including the account numbers, phone numbers and expiration dates in a safe place.
• Only use your credit card on the Internet if it will be encrypted.
• Shred financial or confidential information such as credit card pre-approvals, credit card receipts, and bank statements.
• Carry only the credit cards you plan to use. If you have credit cards you do not use, store them in a safe place. Cancel the accounts if you will not use them again. Cut up the credit cards before discarding.
• Deposit payments and financial mail in a secured post office box, not in your home mailbox.
• Pick up your mail as soon as possible after it's delivered, and keep track of when your bills are supposed to arrive.
• Always check credit card bills and bank and debit card statements for accuracy.
• Be smart about passwords and PINs to keep people from gaining unauthorized access to your accounts.
• Enroll in Identity Theft Protection. Your credit files will be monitored daily so you will be made aware of any activity, making it easier to thwart a criminal's attempt at stealing your identity.

If you become a victim of identity theft, you need only contact an Identity Theft Protection Resolution Specialist and they will do the work of contacting the credit reporting agencies. Merchants who see the notice can contact you to verify any transaction and/or prevent new accounts from being opened without your knowledge.

The Federal Trade Commission has stated that keeping track of activity in your credit file is one of the best ways to combat identity theft. Even without a credit monitoring service, you are entitled by law to request and receive a free report every 12 months from each of the national credit reporting agencies. Information regarding these and other FCRA rights is available at www.ftc.gov.

Identity Theft Protection is not an insurance product.

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