9 Practical Steps To Prevent Identity Theft BEFORE It Happens
Unfortunately, identity theft has become the crime of the new
millenium. Though credit card companies and various agencies
work to prevent it, it is, ultimately, the responsibility of
each individual to take their own precautionary measures against
this crime.
Fortunately, there are some simple steps that can be taken, even
today, to protect ourselves and, better still, prevent a theft
from taking place at all. Below are 11 recommended steps that
anyone can take, today, to prevent this from happening or to
lessen the effects if it has already happened.
At the end of this article is a list of telephone numbers
EVERYONE should keep on file.
PREVENTION 1. When ordering checks never put your full name on
them, only your first initial and last name. If your checkbook
is stolen the thief will not know how you sign your checks. But,
because your bank keeps a copy of your signature on file, it
will and can stop the payment of checks with forged signatures.
2. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card
accounts, DO NOT put the whole account number on the "For" line.
Your check passes through many hands, both at the credit card
company and at the bank, anyone of which has access to all the
information on your check, as well as your credit card number.
Instead, put only the last four digits of the account number,
which is sufficient for the credit card company to identify your
account.
3. Put your WORK phone number on your checks instead of your
home phone number. And, 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. In this way, a thief cannot gain access to other
accounts you have, some of which use the the
name-address-telephone number combination for verification.
4. NEVER pre-print your social security or driver's license
numbers on your checks. You can add it, if necessary. But if you
have it printed, anyone can get it.
5. Do NOT sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put
"PHOTO ID REQUIRED" in the signature area or just leave it
blank. To be really dilligent, while paying, if the clerk does
not ask for a photo ID, make mention of this and insist on
showing it. It will teach them to be more dilligent as well.
6. Be dilligent. In rural areas, one way a thief can steal your
identity is through your mail delivery. Though it is a Federal
crime to go into someone else's mailbox, even to put something
IN it, many mailboxes are left unattended for hours a day after
the mail arrives. If you are missing any bills, especially a
combination of utility and credit card bills, contact the
companies immediately. With this combination thieves have been
known to put in a "change of address" as they pay the minimum on
a bill, then call and have a new card issued with the new
address, even a new name on a secondary card. Within a week, the
thief may be using your credit card without ANYTHING APPEARING
TO HAVE BEEN STOLEN.
7. While traveling abroad, keep a photocopy of your passport
with you. If the original is stolen, you can take the copy to
the local consul and prevent it from being used again.
8. Photocopy both sides of the entire contents of your wallet,
including driver's license, social security card, etc. Keep
these copies in a safe place so that, if your wallet is lost or
stolen, you have a quick inventory of what was in it. Write the
contact information for each company/agency with this copy-- the
sooner you can report the theft, the better. Having the
combination of your SSN and Driv Lic, as well as your credit
card information and address, thieves can do more than simply
make purchases. They can also get MORE credit cards, made out in
their own name, make major purchases, such as vehicles, even
apply for bank loans-- all in your name. Remember, time is of
the essence.
9. Even online identities must be protected, especially email
addresses related to individual websites. Spammers use robots to
comb the internet for email addresses like these, then insert
your email address in the "from" section of their Spam, thus
avoiding detection or causing the complaints to be reverted to
you. Scammers use this information as the contact email for
disreputable sales, such as in auction sites like eBay. There
are simple, free programs available that will scramble the email
addresses on websites.
PROTECTION, POST THREAT If or when your credit cards or
checkbook are lost or stolen there are still several steps you
can take to lessen the severity of the theft. Most of all, the
faster you act, the less you will suffer. Identity thieves know
they are working against the clock and will dump your
information as soon as they sense that the theft has been
detected. If you're very dilligent, you may escape with little
or no damage.
1. Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations (these
telephone numbers are listed below) immediately to place a fraud
alert on your name and Social Security number. The alert means
any company that checks your credit knows your information was
stolen, and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new
credit or charges.
2. File a police report immediately within the jurisdiction
where your wallet stolen. This proves to credit providers you
were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation
(if there ever is one).
3. Alert the credit card companies and your bank personally.
4. Sign Up with a reputable identity theft prevention service.
Don't assume you are part of one just because your credit card
company has some protection available. This only protects your
account with THEM. These companies will collect all the
necessary information from you and, with one call, most or all
of the steps, above, will be handled by them.
Below are the contact numbers you need When your wallet has been
stolen. The first three are the major credit agencies, and the
fourth is the fraud line at the Social Security Administration.
A driver's license or passport will be reported when the police
are notified.
1. Equifax: 1-800-525-6285 2. Experian (formerly TRW):
1-888-397-3742 3. Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289 4.) Social
Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271
Though Identity theft is one of the worst crimes of our time,
these simple steps and pre-cautions can save the average
consumer months, if not years, of grief and very real damage to
their financial status. No one is safe.