Protecting Yourself
A large part of your security from fraud depends on you. Here are a few helpful tips that can reduce your exposure.
Carry only what you need. Do not carry with you at all times important personal
information like birth certificates, social security cards, extra credit cards, or passports. The less personal information
you have with you, the better in the event you should lose or have stolen your purse or wallet.
Consider removing your name from the phone book. The more information about you that is available the easier it is for a criminal to gather the necessary information for fraud.
Never use your own mailbox for outgoing mail. To reduce the chances of mail theft, install a locked mailbox at your residence or use a post office box. Send your mail out with your company's mail, drop it directly into a secured public drop box, or mail from the post office.
Cancel any credit card accounts that you no longer use. Open, unused accounts are an open invitation for fraud. Besides, too many open lines of credit can actually damage your chances of getting of a loan.
Never throw away your receipts into a public trashcan. Always make certain that when you leave a store after making a purchase with your credit card that you have the receipt.
Periodically review your credit report. This is simply the best way to defend yourself. It is your credit report that all lines of credit in your name stem from. Know what is on it. Plus, if you are a victim of Identity Fraud it will show the fraudulent credit on your credit report.
Don’t make obvious passwords. When creating passwords and personal identification numbers do not use the last four digits of your social security number, phone number, birth date, your middle name, consecutive numbers or any other combination that could easily be decoded by thieves.
Memorize all passwords and personal identification numbers. The less you have written down the less likely it is someone will know these passwords and PIN’s.
Do not use your social security number for your driver’s license number. Using your social security number as your driver’s license number only guarantees that if you lose your driver’s license, a criminal will have everything they need to commit Identity Fraud against you.
Only give out your social security number when absolutely necessary. Many times merchants and other retailers will ask you for it when using checks or joining shopping clubs. It is not a requirement that you give it, so don't.
Carefully review your credit card statements and phone bills for unauthorized use. Next to your credit report, these will be the first indicators that something is amiss. If you are a victim, the first sign might be unauthorized charges to your existing accounts.
Tear up completely pre-approved credit applications before throwing them away. Don’t make anything easy for a thief.
Consider a home shredder for all sensitive documents. The best way to keep criminals from accessing your information is to simply not make it available.
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