Prevent Identity Theft

New technology enables us to communicate in ways we have never been able to before. Yet with it comes the very real possibility that we can become victims of identify theft. This can be a devastating and stressful experience and try as we might to prevent it, there is always some new method these predators will find to cause us grief. In order to protect yourself from identity theft, here are some simple rules to follow.

• Check your credit reports annually and issue a fraud alert with each agency (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion).
• Purchase a shredder so that you can destroy documents, mail, or anything that has your name and address on it.
• When shopping online, ensure the site is encrypted and has the lock at the bottom right hand corner of your screen.
• Never give out personal information online such as your social security number.
• Never give out personal information to solicitors who frequently call.
• Ensure pin numbers for credit cards incorporate letters and numbers. Memorize the pin number; never carry it with you.
• If you use an ATM machine, ensure no one is standing behind you with a cell phone.
• If you purchase a gift for someone online, ensure that the bill is not sent along with the gift. It may contain your credit card number on it.* If you pay credit cards online, and opt to not receive paper bills each month, make sure you check your online statements frequently.
• If your card is lost or stolen, notify the credit card company immediately.
• If your purse is stolen, notify the police and file a report. Contact credit card companies, your bank, and any other agency if applicable.
• Never leave your purse or wallet on the front seat of your car for any reason.
• If you expect a bill and it doesn’t arrive, notify the company immediately.
• Always post your mail. Do not leave it in your mailbox for the mail carrier.
• If you obtain a money order from the post office or bank, do not discard the carbon. Take it home with you and shred it.
• Cut up all expired credit cards before discarding them.
• Carry no more than one credit card in your purse. Keep it in a separate compartment, in a change purse, or in a pouch attached to the inside of your clothing.
• If someone arrives at your front door who claims to be a utility man or policeman, do not open the door. Call the police if you are suspicious.
• Many credit card companies now have virtual passwords and/or numbers to prevent fraud. Sign up for this service.
• Change your online password every 3 weeks.
• Do not open any links in emails from eBay or PayPal if you have not made any recent transactions. First, forward the phony emails to: spoof@ebay.com or spoof@paypal.com. Then, go to the sites directly to determine if there has been any attempt at fraud.
• Do not open any emails from individuals or companies you do not know.
• Do not respond to instant messages unless you know who the person is. When in doubt, block them.
• Ensure you have the best online security software available on the market today.
• If you have good Internet security software, it will automatically alert you to threats as well as when to run a full PC scan.
• If you utilize a cable modem, unplug the PC cable from the modem every night.
• PayPal offers an identity protection key which allows you to utilize a set of numbers every time you log in to PayPal or eBay. The cost is $5.00.