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Identity Theft
What is identity theft?
Identity theft occurs when someone acquires your personal information and
uses it without your knowledge to commit fraud or theft. It is a serious
crime and cases are growing. An all-too-common example is when an identity
thief uses your personal information to open a credit card account in your
name.
No matter how cautious you are, there is no way to completely prevent
identity theft from occurring. But there are ways you can help minimize your
risk. This page contains valuable information on how you can protect
yourself by managing your personal information wisely, the warning signs of
identity theft, and what to do if you do become a victim.
Helpful Tips
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Don't give out personal information on the phone, through the mail or over
the Internet unless you've initiated the contact or are sure you know whom
you're dealing with.
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Don't carry your Social Security card with you; leave it in a secure
place. Carry only the identification and credit and debit cards that you
need.
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Don't put your address, phone number, or drivers license number on credit
card sales receipts.
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Social Security numbers or phone numbers should not be put on your
checks.
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Shred your charge receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance
forms, physician statements, checks and bank statements, expired charge
cards that you're discarding, and credit offers you get in the mail.
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Secure your credit card, bank, and phone accounts with passwords. Avoid
using easily available information like birth date, the last four digits
of your SSN, or your phone number. When opening new accounts, you may find
that many businesses still have a line on their applications for your
mother's maiden name. Use a password instead.
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Secure personal information in your home, particularly if you have
roommates or hire outside help.
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Promptly remove mail from your mailbox. If you're planning to be away from
home and can't pick up your mail, call the U.S. Postal Service at
1-800-275-8777 to request a vacation hold.
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Ask about information security procedures in your workplace. Find out who
has access to your personal information and verify that records are kept
in a secure location. Ask about the disposal procedures for those records
as well.
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Before revealing any personally identifying information (for example, on
an application), find out how it will be used and secured, and whether it
will be shared with others. Ask if you have a choice about the use of your
information. Can you choose to have it kept confidential?
Check your credit report
Order copies of your credit report once a year to ensure accuracy. You may
call 1-877-322-8228 for a FREE credit report from any or all three credit
reporting agencies. (The law allows credit bureaus to charge you up to $9.00
for an additional copy of your credit report.)
Make sure it is accurate and includes only those activities you have
authorized.
By checking your report on a regular basis you can catch mistakes and fraud
before they wreak havoc on your personal finances. Don't underestimate the
importance of this step.
Credit Bureaus
Equifax
To order your report, call: 1-800-685-1111
To report fraud, call: 1-800-525-6285
Experian
To order your credit report or report fraud, call: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
TransUnion
To order your report, call: 800-916-8800
To report fraud, call: 1-800-680-7289