Identity Theft Prevention Tips

Identity theft is a crime in which someone wrongfully obtains and uses another person’s personal data in a way that involves fraud or deception, typically for economic gain.  A vast majority of personal information is easily accessible from your computer.  People requesting information via “spam” or unsolicited email might not be legitimate and simply want your personal data in order to commit identity theft against you.  Or, while banking on-line, you may not realize that someone is casually looking over your shoulder and making note of your account information.  Remember, identity theft is the number one consumer fraud committed on unsuspecting citizens.

A Thief Can Access Your Personal Information by:

Stealing your wallet or your mail

Completing a change of address form to divert mail to another address

Rummaging through your trash

Getting your business or personnel records at work

Purchasing personal information from “inside” sources

Hacking into your computer

To Prevent Identity Theft:

Use a paper shredder to dispose of mail and other documents

Review your credit report for inaccuracies

Review bank and credit card statements for unauthorized transactions

Don’t put your social security number on checks and driver’s Licenses

Don’t carry around extra credit cards, birth certificates and passports

Don’t provide or confirm personal information to a telephone solicitor, via email, or a web site unless you initiated the transaction

Protect PIN numbers and passwords

Update your virus protection software

Don’t download files sent  by strangers