| What is Identity Theft? It is the theft of | | | | |
| your personal information, such as social | | | | Give your Social Security number |
| security number, driver's license number, | | | | only when absolutely necessary, and ask to |
| credit card and bank account numbers, | | | | use other types of identifiers. If your state |
| mother's maiden name, and more, with the | | | | uses your Social Security number as your |
| intent to obtain credit and credit cards from | | | | driver's license number, ask to substitute |
| banks and retailers, steal money from the | | | | another number. Do the same if your health |
| victim's existing accounts, apply for loans, | | | | insurance company uses your Social Security |
| establish accounts with utility companies, | | | | number as your policy number. |
| rent an apartment, file bankruptcy or obtain | | | | |
| a job using the victim's name. | | | | At Work; |
| | | | |
| Did you know that in some states Identity | | | | Ask about information security |
| Theft is not even against the law? The victim | | | | procedures in your workplace or at |
| has to prove their innocence. This shocks | | | | businesses, doctor's offices or other |
| most Identity Theft Victims, as it should. It | | | | institutions that collect your personally |
| shocks me. Law Enforcement and Credit Card | | | | identifying information. Find out who has |
| Services should be there to help, but in many | | | | access to your personal information and |
| cases they don't. | | | | verify that it is handled securely. Ask about |
| | | | the disposal procedures for those records as |
| Being prepared, just in case someone steals | | | | well. Find out if your information will be |
| your identity is a must. It may be | | | | shared with anyone else. If so, ask how your |
| inconvenient, but unless you want to go out | | | | information can be kept confidential. Keep |
| and try to use your credit card one day, just | | | | your purse or wallet in a safe place at work; |
| to find that someone else has been using your | | | | do the same with copies of administrative |
| identity to make purchases and your card is | | | | forms that have your sensitive personal |
| no longer accepted, then you need to take | | | | information. |
| steps to prevent your identity from being | | | | |
| stolen. It can take years to clear this up if | | | | Online; |
| it happens to you, so a little prevention now | | | | |
| is the answer. | | | | If you do financial transactions |
| | | | over the Internet, read their privacy and or |
| Facts about Identity Theft; | | | | security statements. You want to know who |
| | | | they share your personal information with. |
| It is considered by law enforcement | | | | You want to know they use a "secure server" |
| to be an absolute epidemic, the fastest | | | | for transactions. You want to know how they |
| growing crime in the United States at this | | | | store your personal information. If you don't |
| time. | | | | like what you hear, don't do your business at |
| | | | that website. There are always alternatives. |
| For the criminal, identity theft is | | | | |
| a relatively low-risk, high-reward endeavor. | | | | Use PayPal. You can transfer a |
| Credit card issuers often don't prosecute | | | | limited number of funds into your paypal |
| thieves who are apprehended. Why? The firms | | | | account and use it to buy merchandise online |
| figure it's not cost efficient. They can | | | | instead of your credit card. |
| afford to write off a certain amount of fraud | | | | |
| as a cost of doing business. | | | | Don't give out personal information |
| | | | on the phone, through the mail, or on the |
| Recently criminals have been using | | | | Internet unless you've initiated the contact |
| the victim's identity to commit crimes | | | | or are sure you know who you're dealing with. |
| ranging form traffic infractions to felonies. | | | | |
| How would you like to find out you are wanted | | | | Before you share any personal |
| for a crime you know nothing about? It has | | | | information, confirm that you are dealing |
| happened. | | | | with a legitimate organization. Check an |
| | | | organization's website by typing its URL in |
| All that is needed is your social | | | | the address line, rather than cutting and |
| security number, your birth date and other | | | | pasting it. Be cautious when responding to |
| identifying information such as your address | | | | promotions. Identity thieves may create phony |
| and phone number and whatever else they can | | | | promotional offers to get you to give them |
| find out about you. With this information, | | | | your personal information. |
| and a false driver's license with their own | | | | |
| picture, they can begin the crime. | | | | Going Out; |
| | | | |
| If you wait until it happens to you, | | | | Carry only the identification |
| it's a nightmare. You won't know until you | | | | information and the credit and debit cards |
| are denied credit or a creditor contacts you | | | | that you'll actually need when you go out. |
| about a charge you know nothing about. | | | | Don't carry your social security card with |
| | | | you unless you expect to need it. |
| How do I prevent Identity Theft? | | | | |
| | | | Should I buy identity theft insurance? |
| At Home; | | | | |
| | | | Some companies offer insurance or similar |
| If you have roommates, employ | | | | products that claim to give you protection |
| outside help, or are having work done in your | | | | against the costs associated with resolving |
| home, make sure your personal information is | | | | an identity theft case. Be aware that most |
| not readily available to them. | | | | creditors will only deal with you to resolve |
| | | | problems, so the insurance company in most |
| Deposit your outgoing mail in post | | | | cases will not be able to reduce that burden. |
| office collection boxes or at your local post | | | | As with any product or service, make sure you |
| office, rather than in an unsecured mailbox. | | | | understand what you're getting before you |
| Promptly remove mail from your mailbox. If | | | | buy. If you decide to buy an identity theft |
| you're planning to be away from home and | | | | insurance product, check out the company with |
| can't pick up your mail, call the U.S. Postal | | | | your local Better Business Bureau, consumer |
| Service at 1-800-275-8777 to request a | | | | protection agency and state Attorney General |
| vacation hold. The Postal Service will hold | | | | to see if they have any complaints on file. |
| your mail at your local post office until you | | | | |
| can pick it up or are home to receive it. | | | | Conclusion: Be smart. If someone is asking |
| | | | for your personal information, anyone, |
| Tear or shred your charge receipts, | | | | including friends, acquaintances, companies, |
| copies of credit applications, insurance | | | | stores, websites, or anyone else, ask |
| forms, physician statements, checks and bank | | | | questions. Find out why they need this |
| statements, expired charge cards that you're | | | | information, what they are going to do with |
| discarding, and credit offers you get in the | | | | it, how long do they keep it stored, who they |
| mail. To opt out of receiving offers of | | | | share it with, and how can you be sure it is |
| credit in the mail, call: 1-888-5-OPTOUT | | | | going to be kept secure. |
| (1-888-567-8688). | | | | |