Protecting yourself from identify theft.

     Identify theft is a serious problem in this country requiring you to be careful with your personal information. Check your credit history regularly. Don't provide sensitive information to everyone, only those that require the information. The disclosure of your social security number is actually only necessary when associated with taxes, social security, or Medicare. Although, the use of the social security number has become an important means of uniquely identifying people and is used very frequently. Therefore, ask why your social security number is necessary determining if they really need it or not.

     Reduce the amount of personal information and cards in your wallet or purse. Never carry your social security card with you. Make a copy of the entire contents of your wallet or purse including the backside. Keep that copy in a safe place to provide quick and accurate access to the contents of your wallet or purse if it is ever stolen to reduce or prevent improper use of your information. Make a copy of your passport and keep copies of the passport and wallet or purse in a separate location when traveling, particularly abroad. A copy of your information is a lot better than no copy at all to prove your identity.

     Do not simply sign your cards. Instead sign your name and include afterwards “CID” which provides indication to the merchant to “see your id” to verify your identity for the purchase to be processed. Do not simply include "CID" because that is not a legal signature and thus merchants are not required to honor the use of your card.

     Do not throw away any documents or letters containing sensitive information including your name, address, birth date, social security number, bank information, credit cards, financial statements, medical records, etc. Instead shred the documents, including letters and credit card and mortgage applications received in the mail so no one can obtain the sensitive information from your trash. Purchase a personal shredder that will crosscut or confetti-cut the documents, not a single cut shredder. Individuals can obtain those documents that are not shredded and then open accounts using your credit history and rating. The more they open the worse the identity theft problem for you.

     Check all your financial statements received for accuracy, particularly credit card transactions. Protect your pin numbers for all accounts. Keep sensitive information in a safe place. Pick up your mail as soon after delivery as you are able and only mail letters in an official USPS mailbox. The personal mailboxes in front of homes without locks are not secure at all.

     Never have your social security number printed on your checks and don't include it on the check yourself unless absolutely necessary. Never write your entire credit card account number on checks sent to credit card companies. Instead enter at the least the last 4 digits or at the most the last 8 digits. The credit card company will know the rest of the numbers since the numbers are specific to their company. If you have a PO Box, then use that as the address on your checks. Also, include your work number instead of your home number.

     If your wallet or purse is stolen, be sure to contact the credit card agencies and file a police report in the jurisdiction where your belongings were stolen immediately using the copy of the contents of your belongings as your reference. Also contact the three credit reporting organizations immediately placing a fraud alert on your credit. The alert provides indication to any company checking your credit history letting them know your belongings were stolen and they must contact you by phone to authorize any new credit. Lastly, contact the Social Security Administration's fraud line at 800-269-0271 or http://www.ssa.gov/oig/hotline. Following the above steps will provide indication to your credit sources you were diligent in reporting the crime.

     Taking the appropriate proactive measures to protect your personal information will lower your risks because if someone does steal your identify, the effort necessary to correct the problem will be hard, slow, and costly!


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