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Avoid Identity Theft

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I received this nice little brochure from the Federal Trade Commission on Identity Theft and thought I would share some key points with you and give you a link to request a copy of the brochure.

To request a copy of the brochure visit: Federal Trade Commission

Common Ways ID Theft Happens:

1) Dumpster Diving ~ They rummage through trash looking for bills or other papers with your personal information.

2) Skimming ~ They steal credit/debit card numbers by using a special storage device when processing your card.

3)Phishing ~ They pretend to be financial institutions or companies and send spam or pop up messages to get you to send your personal information.

4) Changing Your Address ~ They divert your billing statements to another location by completing a "change of address" form.

5) Old Fashioned Stealing ~ They steal wallets and purses, mail, including bank and credit card statements, pre-approved credit offers, and new checks or tax information.

Ways to Deter Identity Thieves by Safeguarding your Information:

1) Shred ~ Financial documents and paperwork before discarding.

2) Protect ~ Your Social Security number.  Don't carry your Social Securtity card in your wallet or write it on your checks.

3) Don't Give Out ~ Personal information on the phone, through the mail or over the internet unless you know who you are dealing with.

4) Never Click ~ Never click on links sent in unsolicited emails. Instead, type in the web address you know.  Use Anti-Virus protection to protect your computer.

5) Don't Use ~ an obvious password, like your birth date your mother's maiden name or the last four digits of your Social Security Number.

6) Keep ~ Your personal information in a secure place at home.

Detect suspicious activity by routinely monitoring your financial accounts and billing statements.

Be alert to signs that require immediate attention.

~ Bills that don't arrive as expected
~ Unexpected credit cards or account statements
~ Denials of credit for no apparent reason
~ Calls or letters about purchases you did not make

Inspect your credit report.  Credit reports contain information about you including what accounts you have and your bill paying history.

You can request a FREE copy of your credit report annually from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion each year.  You can also visit Annual Credit Report to order your FREE credit report.

Review your financial accounts regularly looking for charges you did not make.

Defend against ID Theft as soon as you suspect it.

~ Place a "Fraud Alert" on your credit reports and review the reports carefully.

~ Close accounts that have been tampered with or established fraudulently.

~ File a police report.

~ Report the theft to the Federal Trade Commission.

Helpful Numbers and Websites:
~ Equifax ~ 1-800-525-6285
~ Experian ~ 1-888-397-3742
~ TransUnion ~ 1-800-680-7289
~ FTC (Federal Trade Commission) ~ 1-877-438-4338