How to Prevent Fraud & ID Theft

Protect your identity and prevent the violation.

Protecting your identity from fraudulent purchases and unauthorized use will save you the tremendous stress of being a victim, which necessitates spending a lot of time and effort to clear your name. Thieves can use your Social Security number to obtain work, to open credit card accounts and to establish telephone service in your name. Someone out there pretending to be you violates your rights as a person.

Instructions

1. 

   Credit card security is necessary.

   Contact one of the three credit bureaus to place a security alert on your account. This service is free and prevents anyone from opening a credit account in your name for 90 days. You may sign up for automatic renewal for your convenience. Purchasing extra identity theft protection is affordable and provides additional services, such as monitoring of purchases on your credit cards, tracking Internet for unauthorized use of your Social Security number, and locking or unlocking access to your credit file.

2. 

   Bank credit cards also safeguard your identity.

   Call the toll-free number for the bank that issued your credit card, and inquire about its fraud protection program. Deciding whether to subscribe to the protection program offered by the credit bureaus or your personal bank depends on how much you are willing to spend for the service. They basically provide the same packages for tracking fraudulent transactions.

3. 

   Never expose your credit cards' numbers.

   Keep all credit card paper documents or bills in a safe and secure file, preferably a locked filing cabinet. After two to three years, shred the documents to dispose of them. Do not leave any credit card numbers exposed before discarding.

4. Monitor your own credit card purchases online for free by signing up for online account access through the credit cards' websites. Save all your receipts, and use them as reference to check which purchases have been made on your accounts.

5. 

   Be cautious on the Internet with your personal information.

   Take caution on the Internet. Beware if you receive an email claiming to be from your bank or credit card agency that asks for personal information--this is a scam. Be alert for any spyware on your computer, which is downloaded onto your computer without your permission to track your Internet use. Your computer is likely infected if you encounter many pop-ups, and your browser leads you to websites besides the ones you are trying to link to. Regularly update your anti-virus and anti-spyware program. Do not link to any websites unfamiliar to you. Limit your credit card purchases online to those sites that are encrypted and reputable.

6. Protect your Social Security number. Never leave your Social Security card in your wallet, and don't disclose your number over the phone, through the mail or over the Internet unless you know the organization or the person with whom you are dealing. Do not write your Social Security number on any checks unless you are writing a check in the amount of taxes you owe to the government.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure that the credit bureaus or your bank credit card provides daily monitoring of all purchases, frequent alerts of any suspicious activity and detection of unauthorized use of personal information on Internet sites. If preferred, ask the bureaus or bank credit cards how much theft insurance they provide.

References

• Equifax: Contact Us
• Experian: Contact Us
• TransUnion: Contact Us
• OnGuard Online: Spyware
• Federal Trade Commission: Deter, Detect, Defend: Avoid ID Theft

Resources

• YouTube: How to Protect Yourself From Identity Theft