| The nightmare of identity theft strikes an | | | | Social Security card someplace other than |
| estimated 750,000 people every year. How | | | | your purse or wallet. Provide your SSN only |
| can you keep from being one of them? While | | | | when necessary, and ask to substitute |
| there is no guarantee that you won't become | | | | another number if your state uses your SSN on |
| a victim, there are some steps you can take | | | | your drivers' license. ? Carrying only |
| to decrease the risk and protect yourself. | | | | the credit or debit cards you need. Leave |
| According to the Federal Trade Commission, | | | | other identifying cards at home. |
| some everyday tips to protecting your | | | | |
| personal information include: ? Not | | | | In addition to the everyday precautions that |
| giving out your personal information to a | | | | can minimize your risk, there are some |
| stranger over the phone, the Internet, or | | | | other actions you can take to improve your |
| through the mail. Your Social Security number | | | | safety: ? Safeguard the information on |
| (SSN), phone number and address, credit | | | | your computer by updating your virus |
| card or bank account numbers, and drivers' | | | | protection plan on a regular basis, using a |
| license number can be used by criminals to | | | | firewall to keep hackers from accessing |
| assume your identity. Unless you know the | | | | your files, and deleting any personal |
| person you are communicating with or have | | | | information on your computer before you |
| invited them to contact you, do not answer | | | | dispose of it using a ¡°wipe¡± |
| any question that makes you uncomfortable. | | | | utility program that clears the hard drive. |
| Identity thieves can pose successfully as | | | | Never download a file from someone you don't |
| agents from banks, credit card companies, | | | | know, and do not open e-mails from an |
| Internet service providers, utility | | | | unfamiliar sender; doing so could expose your |
| companies, or government offices. If | | | | computer to a virus. Finally, when |
| someone calls claiming to represent a | | | | submitting personal information over the |
| legitimate organization, confirm this by | | | | Internet, look for the ¡°lock¡± |
| calling the customer service number listed on | | | | icon on the status bar to know that your |
| your statement or bill. ? Finding out | | | | browser is secure. ? Use passwords for |
| how your personal information will be used | | | | your bank, credit card, and phone accounts. |
| and if you have the option to keep the | | | | Try to think of a unique number that you can |
| details confidential when providing this data | | | | remember other than your birth date, your |
| to a legitimate organization, for example, | | | | mother's maiden name, the last four digits of |
| when filling out an application. Ask if the | | | | your SSN, or a series of numbers in order, |
| organization has a method of securing your | | | | e.g. 1-2-3-4. ? Find a safe place for |
| information and if they plan to share it | | | | your purse or wallet while you're at work. |
| with other companies or individuals. ? | | | | Ask about the policy your office has for |
| Always monitoring the balances on your | | | | securing your personal information, such as |
| checking, savings, or other financial | | | | who has access to it, where it is stored, and |
| accounts. Keep an eye out for unexplained | | | | how it is disposed of when you leave. ? |
| charges or withdrawals made without your | | | | Every year, order a copy of your credit |
| permission. Carefully reading your monthly | | | | report from the three different credit |
| bank and credit card statements, then | | | | bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. |
| checking the amounts against your check | | | | Check for the accuracy of each and correct |
| register or other record-keeping method could | | | | any discrepancies. You may be charged for the |
| catch a thief in the act of assuming your | | | | report, but the savings you receive in |
| identity and spending your hard-earned money. | | | | peace of mind is well worth the fee. ? |
| ? Keeping track of your billing cycles. | | | | Clean up any credit damage as soon as you |
| If your credit card statement doesn't | | | | possibly can. Errors in reporting alone |
| arrive at its usual time, this could signal | | | | happen often, some estimates are as high as |
| an address change by an identity thief. | | | | 62% of the information on a credit report |
| ? Being cautious handling your mail and even | | | | may be inaccurate. That doesn't even begin |
| your trash. Place outgoing mail in a post | | | | to cover situations such as identity theft |
| office collection box or at the post office | | | | which is a serious problem on the rise in |
| instead of leaving it out on your mailbox. | | | | the U.S. You can consult a Credit Damage |
| Bring the mail inside promptly every day, and | | | | expert if you suspect that your credit has |
| when planning to be out of town, enlist the | | | | been accessed or used in any way without your |
| help of a friend or neighbor to do the | | | | permission. That includes companies |
| same. A thief can sift through your garbage | | | | running a simple inquiry without you saying |
| in search of sensitive information. Shred | | | | they can. For more information on what an |
| all charge receipts, credit offers and | | | | expert witness can do for you, go to |
| applications, insurance or physician's | | | | When it comes to protecting your good name |
| statements, checks and bank statements, and | | | | and your hard-earned money, a little |
| discarded credit cards. ? Storing your | | | | caution goes a long way. |