How to Avoid Identity Theft

Member

By Sean B
User-Submitted Article

Article Rating: (8 Ratings)

Lock DOWN!!

Learn how to protect your personal information and avoid Identity theft.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Account Statements
Credit Report
Active involvement in all your financial affairs

Step 1

**SNIP SNIP**

Tear up or shred any pre-approved credit card offers you have received and are not interested in.
Step 2

Store all Bank/Credit card Statements, Social Security Card, New/Cancelled checks, and any other financial/personal information in a safe place.
Step 3

Memorize all personal information such as Social Security #, Bank Account #, Credit Card #, Personal Identification Number(PINs).

If you must write any of your personal information down, store it in a secure place where you only you would be able to locate the information.
Step 4

Do not preprint your Driver's License or Social Security Number on checks.
Step 5

Immediately report lost or stolen credit cards or bank cards to your creditor or banker.
Step 6

Review your monthly accounts thoroughly and report any unsual or suspicious transactions to your banker or creditor.
Step 7

What's my Credit Score???

Review your Credit Report and Credit Score each quater (4 Times a Year). Visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call 1.877.322.8228 for a free Credit Report.
Step 8

When accessing Financial information over the computer make sure to remove all viruses from your computer and make sure you have a trusted Anti-Virus Software and Phishing Protection.
Step 9

When accessing Financial information over the phone make you are speaking with a Offical Representative from your Creditor or Banker. Record as much information about the person you are speaking with as possible (ex. Full Name, Title). Avoid High-pressure callers who often demand personal information.
Step 10

Do not put any mail into your own mail box. Take all financial/personal information directly to the Post Office and send it Certified Mail with return receipt.
Step 11

If you must purchase items online consider using a secured licensed money transmitter such as PayPal.
Step 12

Do not carry your Social Securtiy Card or any other Financial information with you unless neccessary.
Step 13

Always take your receipt from the ATM machine. Do not just throw them away, shred them.
Step 14

Do not throw away any Personal or Financial information into your trash unless it has been shredded.
Step 15

When using the ATM make sure there is a appropriate distance between you and the next inline. To Avoid someone peeking over your shoulder.
Step 16

Do not go Phishing!!! Avoid Phish created websites that looks extremely similar to the site of a legitimate enterprise but actually are fraudulent.
Step 17

Cancel Mail delivery when on vacation or when you'll be away from home for a long period of time.
Step 18

I'm CertiFied!!!! Source: http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%3Fei%3DUTF-8%26p%3Dusps%2Bcertified%2Bmail%2Bpictures&w=4269&h=2124&imgurl=www.msc

When Sending payments or any informaion to your Creditor or Banker only list the last 4 digits of your Account Number. NEVER LIST THE ENTIRE NUMBER!! Send all mail Certified with return receipt.
Step 19

Can You See Me???

On the backs of your bank/credit cards, write "photo ID required" in place of the signature.
Step 20

Make copies of credit/bank card numbers and the contact numbers of the issuers, and store this information in a secure location. Access this info if your cards are every stolen to cancel all accounts.
Step 21

Protect your Finacial Banking/Credit information online with a password that is unique and does'nt have any part of your personal information it. Change your password frequently and don't share your password with anyone.
Step 22

Notify The Credit Bureau, Creditors, aswell as Bankers and request a deceased alert for Dead relatives. Close All accounts they have.
Step 23

Contact one of the 3 Credit Bureaus Equifax (equifax.com 1.800.525.6285), Trans Union(transunion.com 1.800.680.729), Experian(experian.com 1.888.397.3742) or File a police report.