How to Prevent Identity Theft

"Identity Theft occurs when someone wrongfully uses your personal identification to obtain credit, loans, services, even rentals and mortgages in your name. They may even commit crimes while impersonating you!" Find out how to avoid this.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Shredder
• A out of the way safe place to keep important documents.

1. Do not give your Social Security Number to any individual or company unless absolutely necessary. Make sure your driver's license number is not your Social Security Number.
2. Do not leave your credit/debit cards unsigned, so no-one can forge your signature and use them.
3. Do not carry an excessive amount of cards. You risk is less with few cards and will have less hassles.
4. Do not share your PIN number with others, nor keep it on the back of your card. If you need to write it down, write it in a out of the way place. Do no label it credit card PIN.
5. If Possible avoid obvious passwords. Putting your kids birthdays and names down in order for a password is obvious and if someone wanted to find it out they could easily.
6. Don't give card numbers to strangers. Confirm whether a person represents a company by calling the phone number on your account statement or in the telephone book. This is a good idea if you are buying something from a telemarketer.
7. Be aware of people around you when at the ATM. Using your free hand to shield the keypad when putting you passwords in to avoid others over seeing your information.
8. Beware of blank spaces. When a slip has a tip line and you are not giving a tip on the card draw through the line. Never sign a blank slip.
9. Keep your receipts. Ask for carbons and incorrect charge slips as well.
10. Shred documents with personal account information. Do not throw away information intact that you would not want to be public information.
11. Protect your mail. Do not leave mail in you box overnight.
12. Install and use a firewall and virus-detection software on your home and office computers.
13. Keep a record of your cards and accounts in a fire safe, preferably locked box. List numbers, expiration dates and contact information in case there is a problem.
14. If you are missing a bill, call the issuer to report the problem. This could mean a thief has taken over your account.
15. Watch for unauthorized transactions. Promptly compare receipts with account statements.
16. Remember to check your credit report once a year. Check it more frequently if you suspect someone has gotten access to your account information. This is free and there is no excuse not to do this. The earlier you know someone has stolen your identity the better.

Tips & Warnings

• Click on the links below to find out more ways to protect your identity.
• Never tell people your SSN or your pin to you bank card!!