| Identity theft encompasses a wide range of | | | | patrol neighborhoods, stealingmail out of mailboxes. |
| deception, from astolen credit card used to | | | | A little acid wash, and voila!, they changethe |
| charge purchases to an existing account,to stolen | | | | amount and the person being paid. Don't give |
| information used to impersonate the victim, open | | | | them thechance! If you're going out of town, |
| newaccounts (even ones for utilities), and rack up | | | | have the post office put a holdon your mail. |
| thousands of dollarsin debt. | | | | Consider getting a post office box or ask your |
| With over 500,000 new cases each year (and | | | | postoffice about getting a key-operated |
| some say upwardsof 900,000), identity theft is | | | | community mailbox for yourneighborhood. |
| one of the fasting growing crimes in | | | | 7. Technology doesn't beat everything. |
| America. In many states it isn't even illegal, or | | | | Don't give out personal information over cellular |
| hardly punishable ifit is. Often the perpetrator | | | | mobile/wirelessphones, or cordless phones. (This |
| goes uncaught and unpunished. Worsestill is that it | | | | includes telephone banking.) |
| takes on average 12 months for the victim to | | | | Their radio frequencies can be easily intercepted, |
| realizehe is a victim and by then it may nearly | | | | overheard, andhacked. |
| impossible to climb backout of the black hole of | | | | Surfing the internet puts you at risk from hackers |
| damaged credit, costing hundreds of hoursand | | | | breaking intoyour system; consider purchasing a |
| hundreds of dollars to try to fix it. | | | | "firewall" program to protectyour computer from |
| Sadly, since much of this goes unpunished, | | | | outside access. When divulging personalinformation |
| companies often writeoff the bad debt and then | | | | on the internet (for example, when making a |
| charge you and me higher interest ratesand fees | | | | purchase)always look for privacy policies and the |
| to cover their losses. So we all are indirect victims | | | | little "lock" symbol thatindicates your information is |
| ofidentity theft. The more vigilant we become, | | | | secure. |
| the better off we willall be. | | | | Don't use your email address for user IDs on |
| What can you do to protect yourself from | | | | websites; there are |
| becoming a victim ofidentity theft? There is no | | | | "robots" that specifically search for this on sites |
| absolute guarantee, but the moreprecautions you | | | | like eBay to tryand trick you into divulging your |
| put in place, the harder it will be for someone | | | | personal information. You mayreceive an |
| tosteal your information and use it illegally. What | | | | official-looking email asking you to "verify" or |
| follow below aresome ideas that you can use to | | | | "update"your information. Remember that anyone |
| start protecting yourself now. | | | | who already has yourinformation will not ask you |
| 1. Check your credit reports annually. | | | | to verify it. Always be suspicious ofsuch tactics. |
| This is your first and foremost line of defense. | | | | The same goes for people who call you and claim |
| Contact the threemajor credit reporting agencies | | | | tobe somebody like a bill collector, government |
| ( every year to obtain acopy of your credit | | | | agent, utility worker,etc. If in doubt, call the |
| report. Some websites also offer a 3-in-1report. | | | | company they appear to be representing. |
| Go through them carefully, looking for any | | | | If you use a laptop computer use a strong |
| inaccuracies. | | | | password (combinationof upper/lower-case |
| Report any problems immediately. Consider asking | | | | letters, numbers, symbols); don't useautomatic |
| them to requireyour permission to issue new | | | | login; always log off when finished; and don't |
| credit lines. | | | | storefinancial information on it unless absolutely |
| 2. Protect your Social Security number. | | | | necessary. |
| Many companies ask for your Social Security | | | | When disposing of your personal computer, |
| number (SSN) to usefor recordkeeping. Ask if | | | | deleting your personalinformation usually isn't |
| you can substitute a different number. | | | | enough. Use a "wipe" utility program torender files |
| This is especially true of driver's licenses and | | | | unrecoverable. |
| health insurancecards. Never give out your SSN to | | | | 8. Be aware of the opportunities to steal your |
| anyone over the phone orinternet if you did not | | | | information. |
| initiate the contact. Don't carry your Social | | | | Think of all the places that store your personal |
| Security card with you and don't have your SSN | | | | information, such asthe offices of doctors, |
| preprinted on yourchecks (or your phone number | | | | dentists, accountants, loan officers, |
| either). | | | | healthinsurance, schools, courts, etc. Ask them |
| 3. Protect passwords and PINs. | | | | how they protect yourinformation. Request that |
| Always protect your passwords and PINs from | | | | they shred anything with personalinformation on it |
| being seen byothers, especially at ATMs. Don't | | | | when disposing of it. |
| write them down and carry themwith you. Do not | | | | Keep your wallet or purse in a safe place at |
| store passwords on your computer's hard drive. | | | | work; not all of yourfellow coworkers are |
| Ifyou need to write them down, store them | | | | trustworthy. Be aware of the "Good |
| somewhere else. | | | | Samaritan" scheme where your missing wallet is |
| Passwords should be hard to discover (bad | | | | returned (afterone of your several credit cards is |
| choices: mother'smaiden name, birthdates, last 4 | | | | removed; you have so manythat you probably |
| digits of SSN or phone number, ora series of | | | | won't notice!). Only carry a minimum number |
| consecutive numbers). When possible use a mix | | | | ofcards and identification with you. |
| ofupper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and | | | | 9. If desired, subscribe to a credit monitoring |
| symbols. | | | | service. |
| 4. Know your billing cycles. | | | | If you're really worried about identity theft, |
| Know when to expect your bills. If any of them is | | | | consider subscribing toa credit monitoring service. |
| late, call thecompany or agency and check on its | | | | They will regularly notify you of yourcredit status |
| status. A late/missing billcould mean that someone | | | | and anything suspicious that might be going on. |
| has stolen your information andchanged the billing | | | | 10. Make a list and check it twice. |
| address, leaving you unaware of the chargesthat | | | | Make list of all your credit card numbers, banking |
| may be racking up. | | | | account numbers,and driver's license number with |
| 5. Shred everything with your information on it. | | | | their customer service numbersand keep them in |
| All those credit card applications you receive in | | | | a safe place. That way you'll have a startingplace |
| the mail and throwaway are an open invitation for | | | | if something should happen to you. |
| someone to open an account inyour name. Invest | | | | Remember, the more vigilant we all are, the more |
| in a good cross-cut shredder and shred | | | | protected we allare. |
| alldocuments with any financial information on | | | | For more information regarding identity theft , |
| them, including creditcard receipts. Then put the | | | | see the federalgovernment's website at |
| remnants in the yuckiest, ickiest trashyou've got | | | | Chemain Evans is a quality control specialist for |
| to discourage dumpster-divers from stealing them | | | | Simple Joe, Inc. Income & Expenses PC software |
| andputting them back together. | | | | is a Simple Joe product that is a quick and simple |
| 6. Make the post office your ally. | | | | way to keep track of your expenses and stay |
| Deposit outgoing mail at your local post office or | | | | within your budget. |
| in a locked postoffice drop box. Thieves actually | | | | |