HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

Education is the best weapon against identity theft. It is imperative that you take steps to learn more about identity theft and how to prevent it from happening to you, your business, or your family. Here are some suggestions to help you minimize your risk and make it more difficult for identity thieves to access your information.

• Review your credit report for changes at least once every year. It contains your Social Security number (SSN); past and present employers; and a listing of your current and past financial accounts.
• Review your monthly credit card statements. Look for changes or charges that you did not make. It's also a good idea to monitor your financial accounts online so that you can view them on a daily basis.
• If you don't receive bills or statements on time or you receive credit cards that you didn't apply for, always call to confirm that there is not a problem.
• Shred any documents that contain personal information, including preapproved credit applications, credit card receipts, and bills.
• Don't give out your SSN. It is the primary target for these types of criminals. Never carry a Social Security card in your purse or wallet.
• Don't leave delivered mail in your mailbox overnight, and drop all outgoing mail off at the post office—especially bills or documents containing personal information.
• Be careful where you store deposit slips and checks, as thieves can use them to access your bank account or write checks to themselves. Always report a lost or stolen checkbook; automated teller machine (ATM) card; or credit card immediately.
• Don't give out personal information over the telephone unless you initiated the call.
• Empty your wallet of extra credit cards and identification.
• Memorize your SSN and passwords. Never make them easily accessible to others.
• Use caution when disclosing personal information—such as your checking account or credit card numbers—on any Web site unless you receive a secured authentication key from the provider.
• When you subscribe to an online service, it may ask you to provide your personal credit card or bank account information. Be aware when asked to confirm your enrollment by disclosing passwords to your personal accounts.

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