| The nightmare of identity theft strikes an | | | | your Social Security card someplace other than |
| estimated 750,000 people every year. How can | | | | your purse or wallet. Provide your SSN only when |
| you keep from being one of them? While there is | | | | necessary, and ask to substitute another number |
| no guarantee that you won't become a victim, | | | | if your state uses your SSN on your drivers' |
| there are some steps you can take to decrease | | | | license. ? Carrying only the credit or debit cards |
| the risk and protect yourself. According to the | | | | you need. Leave other identifying cards at home. |
| Federal Trade Commission, some everyday tips | | | | In addition to the everyday precautions that can |
| to protecting your personal information include: ? | | | | minimize your risk, there are some other actions |
| Not giving out your personal information to a | | | | you can take to improve your safety: ? |
| stranger over the phone, the Internet, or through | | | | Safeguard the information on your computer by |
| the mail. Your Social Security number (SSN), | | | | updating your virus protection plan on a regular |
| phone number and address, credit card or bank | | | | basis, using a firewall to keep hackers from |
| account numbers, and drivers' license number can | | | | accessing your files, and deleting any personal |
| be used by criminals to assume your identity. | | | | information on your computer before you dispose |
| Unless you know the person you are | | | | of it using a ¡°wipe¡± utility |
| communicating with or have invited them to | | | | program that clears the hard drive. Never |
| contact you, do not answer any question that | | | | download a file from someone you don't know, |
| makes you uncomfortable. Identity thieves can | | | | and do not open e-mails from an unfamiliar |
| pose successfully as agents from banks, credit | | | | sender; doing so could expose your computer to |
| card companies, Internet service providers, utility | | | | a virus. Finally, when submitting personal |
| companies, or government offices. If someone | | | | information over the Internet, look for the |
| calls claiming to represent a legitimate organization, | | | | ¡°lock¡± icon on the status bar |
| confirm this by calling the customer service | | | | to know that your browser is secure. ? Use |
| number listed on your statement or bill. ? Finding | | | | passwords for your bank, credit card, and phone |
| out how your personal information will be used | | | | accounts. Try to think of a unique number that |
| and if you have the option to keep the details | | | | you can remember other than your birth date, |
| confidential when providing this data to a | | | | your mother's maiden name, the last four digits of |
| legitimate organization, for example, when filling | | | | your SSN, or a series of numbers in order, e.g. |
| out an application. Ask if the organization has a | | | | 1-2-3-4. ? Find a safe place for your purse or |
| method of securing your information and if they | | | | wallet while you're at work. Ask about the policy |
| plan to share it with other companies or individuals. | | | | your office has for securing your personal |
| ? Always monitoring the balances on your | | | | information, such as who has access to it, where |
| checking, savings, or other financial accounts. Keep | | | | it is stored, and how it is disposed of when you |
| an eye out for unexplained charges or | | | | leave. ? Every year, order a copy of your credit |
| withdrawals made without your permission. | | | | report from the three different credit bureaus, |
| Carefully reading your monthly bank and credit | | | | Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Check for the |
| card statements, then checking the amounts | | | | accuracy of each and correct any discrepancies. |
| against your check register or other | | | | You may be charged for the report, but the |
| record-keeping method could catch a thief in the | | | | savings you receive in peace of mind is well |
| act of assuming your identity and spending your | | | | worth the fee. ? Clean up any credit damage as |
| hard-earned money. ? Keeping track of your billing | | | | soon as you possibly can. Errors in reporting alone |
| cycles. If your credit card statement doesn't | | | | happen often, some estimates are as high as |
| arrive at its usual time, this could signal an address | | | | 62% of the information on a credit report may |
| change by an identity thief. ? Being cautious | | | | be inaccurate. That doesn't even begin to cover |
| handling your mail and even your trash. Place | | | | situations such as identity theft which is a serious |
| outgoing mail in a post office collection box or at | | | | problem on the rise in the U.S. You can consult a |
| the post office instead of leaving it out on your | | | | Credit Damage expert if you suspect that your |
| mailbox. Bring the mail inside promptly every day, | | | | credit has been accessed or used in any way |
| and when planning to be out of town, enlist the | | | | without your permission. That includes companies |
| help of a friend or neighbor to do the same. A | | | | running a simple inquiry without you saying they |
| thief can sift through your garbage in search of | | | | can. For more information on what an expert |
| sensitive information. Shred all charge receipts, | | | | witness can do for you, go to When it comes to |
| credit offers and applications, insurance or | | | | protecting your good name and your hard-earned |
| physician's statements, checks and bank | | | | money, a little caution goes a long way. |
| statements, and discarded credit cards. ? Storing | | | | |