| For the sixth consecutive year, identity theft | | | | missing. – Keep a list of your credit card |
| surpassed construction, credit card and debt | | | | numbers and their toll-free customer service |
| collection fraud as the most prevalent form of | | | | numbers so you can cancel cards quickly if lost or |
| consumer fraud, according to the Federal Trade | | | | stolen. Keep the list in a safe place in your home, |
| Commission, which received 255,000 identity theft | | | | not in your wallet. |
| complaints last year. | | | | Social Security Number – Do not carry |
| Many consumers associate identity theft with | | | | your Social Security card in your wallet. Memorize |
| email solicitations and computer firewall breaches, | | | | the number and put the original card in a safe |
| but checks, credit cards and Social Security | | | | place. – If you believe your Social Security |
| numbers remain targets as well. To protect | | | | number has been compromised, contact the |
| yourself from becoming a victim, follow these tips | | | | Social Security Administration fraud line |
| to prevent identity theft. | | | | 800-269-0271. |
| Checks: – Use your initials and last name | | | | PINs and Passwords – Do not write your |
| when ordering printed checks. A check forger | | | | PIN on the back of the card or on anything else in |
| won't know how you sign your checks, but your | | | | your wallet. – Use different PINs for each |
| bank will. – Do not have your home phone | | | | debit and credit card. If you have too many to |
| number or Social Security number printed on your | | | | remember, consider reducing the number of cards |
| checks. Use your work phone number. Use a post | | | | you carry in your wallet. – Do not use |
| office box or work address instead of your home | | | | easily available information, like your birth date, |
| address. – Order new checks from your | | | | phone number or part of your Social Security |
| bank and pick them up at the bank, rather than | | | | number, for PINS and passwords. |
| having them sent to your home mailbox. | | | | Mail and Trash – Use post office collection |
| Credit cards – When paying credit card | | | | boxes for outgoing mail, rather than your home |
| bills, write only the last four digits of the account | | | | mail box. – Shred any trash that may |
| number in the check memo line. – Do not | | | | contain personal information, including charge |
| sign the back of your credit card. Instead write, | | | | receipts, credit applications, insurance forms, |
| "Photo ID required." – Photocopy both | | | | medical statements, checks and bank statements, |
| sides of your driver's license, credit cards and | | | | expired credit and debit cards and direct mail |
| other important contents of your wallet. In the | | | | credit offers. – You can opt not to receive |
| event it is stolen, you'll know exactly what is | | | | direct mail credit offers by calling 888-567-8688. |