14 Steps You Can Take to Prevent Identity Theft
Becoming a major epidemic, Identity Theft occurs when a
criminal uses another person's personal information to take on
that person's identity. Identity theft includes the misuse of a
Social Security number, credit cards, mail fraud, scam, schemes,
frauds, or any other form of misuse or abuse of a victim's
identity.
The Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act, known commonly as
FACTA, was put into law in the United States to help to protect
consumers from identity theft and to help in its prevention.
FACTA ensures that all citizens are treated fairly when they
apply for a mortgage or other form of credit and it entitles
them to a free annual credit report to verify its accuracy.
There is no guarantee that you will never be a victim; however,
there are steps you can take to minimize your risk. Here is a
list of things you can take to prevent or at least minimize its
occurrence:
1. Manage your personal information cautiously and with a new
awareness that identity theft can occur anytime anywhere and
when you least expect it.
2. Ask about security procedures in your workplace, doctor's
office, or other business or organization that routinely
collects relevant and personal identifying information as part
of doing business or providing a service. Find out who has
access to your personal information and verify that it is
handled securely. Inquire about their disposal procedures and if
your information will be shared with anyone else (namely third
parties such as mailing list companies, marketing and survey
companies, etc.).
3. Instead of giving your Social Security Number, inquire if you
can use other types of identification. Use your Social Security
Number with caution and only when absolutely necessary.
"Your Chances of becoming victimized by some form of identity
theft is one in ten," according to the Federal Trade
Commission.
4. If you find that you have been vitimized, immediately file a
complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC maintains a
database of identity theft cases used by law enforcement
agencies for investigations. Filing a complaint helps the FTC
learn more about identity theft and the problems victims are
having. This knowledge helps them to assist you better.
5. Carry only the identification and the number of credit and
debit cards that you will actually use. Leave extra cards in a
safe place at home, in a safety deposit box, or any other
secured location.
6. Avoid giving out personal information on the phone, through
the mail, or on the internet unless you are absolutely sure you
know and can trust with whom you are communicating. Caution:
Before you share personal information, be sure you are dealing
with a legitimate business or organization. (If you are unsure
about an online communication, check the organization's website
by typing its URL in the address line. Most large companies post
alerts on their sites when they are aware of a scam when their
name is used improperly.)
Identity thieves usually pose as representatives of banks,
lotteries, sweepstakes, internet service providers, or some
other officially-sounding-entity. They will use any means
possible to try to get you to reveal your valuable
information.
7. Call the Customer Service Department of companies or
organizations with whom you do business using the number listed
on your account statement or in the telephone book.
8. Do not place passwords on your credit card, bank, or
telephone accounts.
9. When choosing a password, avoid using obvious information
like your mother's maiden name, your birth date, a series of
consecutive numbers, or the last four digits of your Social
Security Number or your phone number.
10. Pay attention to your billing cycles. A missing bill could
mean an identity thief has gotten their hands on it.
"9.9 million were victims of identity theft in 2002,"
according to the Federal Trade Commission. Don't wait until it
happens to you.
11. Be wary of promotional scams or phony offers to get you to
give them your personal information such as lottery and
sweepsatkes that you have never entered and ones asking for an
"administration" fee.
12. If your job requires you to suit up in special clothing at
work, never leave your purse or wallet in your personal clothes.
Always keep them in a safe and secured place.
13. When reordering checks, pick them up at the bank instead of
having them sent to your mailbox.
14. Obtain a current credit report by contacting any of these
major credit bureaus:
Equifax: P.O. Box 740241 Atlanta, GA 30374-0241 For Fraud
Alerts, call: 800-525-6285
Experian: P.O. Box 2002 Allen TX 75013 For Fraud Alerts, call:
888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
Trans Union: P.O. Box 1000, Chester, PA 19022 For Fraud Alerts,
call: 800-680-7289
Think you're not at risk? Unfortunately, you are. View
"Protecting Your Identity" blog at Protecting
Your Identity to learn more about what you can do to protect
yours.