* Don't give out
personal information on the phone, through the mail, or over the Internet
unless you've initiated the contact or know who you're dealing with.
* If you get a call from anyone who identifies
themself as working for your bank, internet service providers, a government
agency, or any place else to get you to reveal your SSN, mother's
maiden name, financial account numbers, and other identifying information
assume it is an imposter and don't give it to them. You can call the
place back and ask them if someone called you if you are not sure,
but this is an old trick to get your info--a place you do business
with has already has the info on file and wouldn't be asking for it
on the phone.
* Get a paper shredder (get a cross-cut shredder which these can be had for as little as around $30 if you shop around) and
shred all documents that contain financial account numbers of any
kind before you throw them away. This includes but is not limited
to credit card info, bank numbers, brokerage accounts, credit card
offers you get in the mail, loan information or applications, and
any other sensitive personal information.
* You can make shredded paper even more difficult
to reassemble by stirring it up and wetting it with water. When it
dries it will stick together.
* If you simply tear the documents up throw
them away at different times so the entire document is not in the
same trash bag.
* Don't carry your SSN card around with you.
* Get a copy of your credit report from each
of the three major credit reporting agencies every year and check
to see if any accounts other than the ones you opened have been opened
in your name.
Equifax:
Report fraud: Call (800) 525-6285
Order credit report: (800) 685-1111.
Web: www.equifax.com
Experian (formerly TRW):
Report fraud: Call (888) EXPERIAN (888-397-3742)
Order credit report: (888) EXPERIAN.
Web: www.experian.com
TransUnion:
Report fraud: (800) 680-7289
Order credit report: (800) 888-4213.
Web: www.transunion.com
* You are entitled to a free credit report
if you are a victim of identity theft.
* By September everyone will be entitled to a free annual credit report from each of the three credit bureaus Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Get more info at www.FTC.gov/credit
* Currently only 10 states California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Nevada, Louisiana, Texas, Vermont, and Washington give consumers the right to block access to their credit files. Congress is considering a law to allow credit freezes nationwide which most financial institutions of any kind are opposing. They make money by selling your info! You can make your feelings known on the subject at http://www.senate.gov or http://house.gov.
* Don't put any mail which contains checks or
account information in a personal mail box. Put in post office collection
boxes or take to your local post office. Thieves can beat the postman
to your mail if it is left in a mailbox.
* If you are going
to be away from home either have a neighbor pick up your mail or get
the post office to hold it till you get back. You can call U.S. Postal
Service at 1-800-275-8777 to request a vacation
hold.
* Be alert for a missing credit card bill. A
missing credit card bill could mean an identity thief has taken over
your credit card account and changed your billing address to cover
his tracks. Contact your company if the bill is more than a few days
late.
* Stopping preapproved credit card offers from
coming to you is one way to help reduce the risk of sensitive info
falling into the hands of a would be thief.
To opt out of pre-approved
offers of credit for all three bureaus, call (888) 5OPTOUT (888-567-8688) or go the their web site at www.optoutprescreen.com where you can elect to opt out for 5 years or permanetly.
* Don use password to personal
accounts that are easily identifiable like mother's maiden name,
birthdate of yourself or a family member, your children's names,
your pets names, your spouses's name, last four digits of your SSN,
a series of consecutive numbers.
* A good process for picking
a secure password is a combination of letters (both upper and lower
case), numbers, and special characters if the system will accept
it such as: tGk72&!
* Use only secure sites, those
that start with "https", when making
online purchases.
*
What to Do if You
Do Become an Identity Theft Victim
* Cancel
your credit cards immediately. Keep a list of the toll-free numbers
on your card numbers in a secure location so you know whom to call.
* Notify your employer, insurance
agent, stockbroker, etc.
* File a police report immediately
in the jurisdiction where it was stolen.
* Notify the three major credit
reporting agencies and get regular copies of your credit history
from them case is resolved.
* Check with the post office
for an unauthorized change of your address.
* If your checks get stolen you
can report it to the check clearing agencies:
Certigy/Equifax: (800) 437-5120
Chexsystems: (800) 428-9623
CheckRite: (800) 766-2748
CheckCenter/CrossCheck: (800) 843-0760
International Check Services: (800) 526-5380
SCAN: (800) 262-7771
TeleCheck: (800) 710-9898
Important:
It is better to communique with credit agencies, banks, brokerages,
etc. when reporting lost or stolen cards
in writing so in addition to your phone calls follow up in writing
and make copies of your correspondence. You will need a paper trail
to document your efforts to clean up your accounts.
Thrift Meister
Bonus
You can remove your name from mail
and phone marketing lists by writing to:
Direct Marketing Association
Mail Preference Service, P.O. Box 643, Carmel,
NY 10512.
It is free to opt out by mail and
$5 on line at:
www.dmaconsumers.org.
.
FTC’s telemarketing Do Not Call registry
(888) 382-1222
Online registration: www.donotcall.gov
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