Have you ever wondered how thieves do it? How do they steal your identity? With a credit card number, social security number or birth date, a thief could be well on his way to stealing your identity. Here are 10 things you can do about identity theft.
- Order copies of your credit report.
Order a copy from the three main credit agencies and verify the accuracy at least once a year. Use a credit report monitoring service that alerts you to suspicious activity. See name and contact information to credit bureaus below. - Don't give out information over the phone or Internet.
Never give out personal information unless you have initiated the contact and you are confident in the parties with whom you are dealing. Identity thieves pose as bank representatives, internet providers or government agencies to get you to reveal your personal information. Remember, Web sites that start with "http" are not secure. Web sites that start with "https" are secure sites. If asked to reveal personal information to your employer, merchant or creditor, inquire as to how the information will be used and secured. - Guard your mail.
Deposit outgoing mail in a post office collection box and remove incoming mail as soon as possible. If you will be away for a period of time, call the post office to request a vacation hold. - Shred documents.
Shred important documents that you are trashing and contains personal information. Identity thieves may search your trash. If you receive pre-approved credit applications, shred these mailing before throwing them in the trash. - Don't carry all your information in your wallet.
Only carry the identification, debit and credit cards that will be used. Do not carry your social security number, passport, and birth certificate. Make a copy of the front and back of everything in your wallet. Do not make your security passwords so obvious. - Guard your social security, credit card, and bank numbers and pass codes.
District of Columbia residents should be aware that their drivers' license ID number was their SSN. If you live in the District have this number changed to a random number. Protect parents in elder care situations by limiting and monitoring their finances and credit. - Keep a list of financial data.
Keep a list of all your financial data in a safe place. Use a fire proof lock box that also doubles as a safe to keep important papers. - File a police report.
File a report immediately in the jurisdiction your wallet or personal information was lost or stolen. This is an indication to creditors that you took prudent action. - Call credit reporting agencies to place a fraud alert.
The fraud alert tells any company that checks your credit that your information has been stolen. The three major credit reporting agencies are:Equifax Experian Trans Union Address P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374P.O. Box 2104
Allen, TX 75013P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92834Order Credit Report 1-800-685-1111 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742) 1-800-916-8800 Report Fraud 1-800-525-6285 1-888-EXPERIAN 1-800-680-7289 - Call the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hotline.
The FTC hotline provides more information on minimizing identity theft and what to do if you become a victim. Call 877-738-4338 or visit the FTC's Web site on Identity Theft.
Sources
1. "How Identity Theft Works," by Lee Obringer
2. Identity Theft Resource Center
3. FTC — Your National Resource for Identity Theft
4. Amica Today, Vol. 5, No. 3, Summer 2003, Amica Insurance
5. Miscellaneous readings
1. "How Identity Theft Works," by Lee Obringer
2. Identity Theft Resource Center
3. FTC — Your National Resource for Identity Theft
4. Amica Today, Vol. 5, No. 3, Summer 2003, Amica Insurance
5. Miscellaneous readings
