 Identity Theft Prevention
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Credit Report
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Request a copy of your credit report
every year or so. It tells you whether anyone has applied for credit in your name,
and may reveal
accounts being used without your knowledge, with the bill being
sent to a different address.
Credit Cards
- Sign new cards immediately.
- Store them safely - They are money!
- Only carry the cards you will use.
- Don't write your PIN # on your card.
- Shred documents that show your account
number before discarding.
- Don't give your card number over the
phone, unless you initiated the call.
- Remember to get your card and receipt
after a purchase, and double check they are yours.
- Notify the credit card company
immediately if your bill is incorrect, or your card is lost or stolen.
- Check your bill carefully, and notify
the credit card company if you don't receive it on time.
Mail
- Don't write your credit card number or
social security number on a postcard or the outside of an envelope.
- Collect your mail promptly.
- Have your mail held if you'll be out of
town or on vacation.
- Use collection boxes or the post office
for outgoing mail if your home mailbox is unattended.
- Opt-out of receiving pre-approved credit
offers
Internet
- Never e-mail your credit card number or
social security number.
- Check carefully that you are on the page
you intend, and not an impostor's page.
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Use only secure web pages for online ordering. (
 You
should see the padlock on the status bar of Microsoft Internet
Explorer pages where a credit card number is requested.)
- Online credit applications which request
a social security number should also be on secure web pages. (Look for
the padlock.)
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Use anti-virus and personal firewall software, and keep it updated.
Do you know what PMB
Means?
Private post office box services have sometimes been a tool for
fraudulent activity, including identity theft. The thief would
change the victim's address so bills for the credit opened in the
victim's name would go to the bogus mail drop. Now
the U.S. Postal Service is requiring that, for delivery,  PMB
(private
mail box) be indicated on in the address (or return address),
and that two forms of identification be used (including photo ID)
when when opening accounts at mail box services. |
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