| For the sixth consecutive year, identity theft | | | | PINs and Passwords |
| surpassed construction, credit card and debt | | | | - Do not write your PIN on the back of the card |
| collection fraud as the most prevalent form of | | | | or on anything else in your wallet. |
| consumer fraud, according to the Federal Trade | | | | - Use different PINs for each debit and credit |
| Commission, which received 255,000 identity theft | | | | card. If you have too many to remember, |
| complaints last year. | | | | consider reducing the number of cards you carry |
| Many consumers associate identity theft with | | | | in your wallet. |
| email solicitations and computer firewall breaches, | | | | - Do not use easily available information, like your |
| but checks, credit cards and Social Security | | | | birth date, phone number or part of your Social |
| numbers remain targets as well. To protect | | | | Security number, for PINS and passwords. |
| yourself from becoming a victim, follow these tips | | | | Mail and Trash |
| to prevent identity theft. | | | | - Use post office collection boxes for outgoing |
| Checks: | | | | mail, rather than your home mail box. |
| - Use your initials and last name when ordering | | | | - Shred any trash that may contain personal |
| printed checks. A check forger won't know how | | | | information, including charge receipts, credit |
| you sign your checks, but your bank will. | | | | applications, insurance forms, medical statements, |
| - Do not have your home phone number or Social | | | | checks and bank statements, expired credit and |
| Security number printed on your checks. Use | | | | debit cards and direct mail credit offers. |
| your work phone number. Use a post office box | | | | - You can opt not to receive direct mail credit |
| or work address instead of your home address. | | | | offers by calling 888-567-8688. |
| - Order new checks from your bank and pick | | | | If your wallet is stolen, you should immediately: |
| them up at the bank, rather than having them | | | | - File a police report to document the theft and |
| sent to your home mailbox. | | | | the wallet contents. |
| Credit cards | | | | - Contact one of the national credit reporting |
| - When paying credit card bills, write only the last | | | | organizations (listed below) to have a fraud alert |
| four digits of the account number in the check | | | | placed on your name and Social Security number. |
| memo line. | | | | The organization you contact is required to |
| - Do not sign the back of your credit card. | | | | contact the other two. If the thief's purchases |
| Instead write, "Photo ID required." | | | | initiate a credit check, the credit reporting |
| - Photocopy both sides of your driver's license, | | | | organization can alert the merchant. Placing a |
| credit cards and other important contents of your | | | | fraud alert entitles you to free copies of your |
| wallet. In the event it is stolen, you'll know exactly | | | | credit reports. |
| what is missing. | | | | - Equifax 800-525-6285 |
| - Keep a list of your credit card numbers and | | | | - Experian 888-397-3742 |
| their toll-free customer service numbers so you | | | | - Trans Union 800-680-7289 |
| can cancel cards quickly if lost or stolen. Keep the | | | | - Close all accounts for missing credit cards. Check |
| list in a safe place in your home, not in your | | | | your credit reports for accounts opened |
| wallet. | | | | fraudulently. |
| Social Security Number | | | | - File a complaint with the Federal Trade |
| - Do not carry your Social Security card in your | | | | Commission, which maintains a database of |
| wallet. Memorize the number and put the original | | | | identity theft cases, online at . This database |
| card in a safe place. | | | | assists law enforcement agencies and helps the |
| - If you believe your Social Security number has | | | | FTC learn more about identity theft. |
| been compromised, contact the Social Security | | | | - Notify your bank if your wallet contained a |
| Administration fraud line 800-269-0271. | | | | checkbook or debit/ATM cards. |