Reduce Your Risk of Identity Theft

Friday, 18 November 2005

Reduce Your Risk of Identity Theft

Develop Good Habits
Unfortunately, there's no guarantee that you won't be a victim of identity theft. But you can help minimize your risk by developing some new behaviors. Most of these steps are easy and once you get in the habit, they'll become part of your normal routine.

	Obtaining Your Credit Report Annual Credit Report 1-877-322-8228 www.annualcreditreport.com Equifax 1-800-685-1111 http://www.equifax.com Experian 1-888-EXPERIAN (1-888-397-3742) http://www.experian.com TransUnion 1-800-888-4213 http://www.transunion.com

Twelve Steps to Protect Your Information
1. Guard your mail and trash from theft and shred documents or letters that contain your personal information. Shred any documents containing personal information that you no longer need.

2. Deposit potentially sensitive outgoing mail at the post office or in collection boxes.

3. Carry only the identification and the credit and debit cards that you'll actually need.

4. Secure personal information in your home, especially if you have roommates or employ outside help. Believe it or not, even family members have been known to steal personal information.

5. Keep your purse, wallet or forms with sensitive data in a safe place at work.

6. Don't give out personal information on the phone, through the mail or over the Internet unless you've initiated the contact. Identity thieves may pose as representatives of banks, Internet service providers (ISPs) and even government agencies to get you to reveal information.

7. Don't use personal information, like your Social Security number, as a password on any accounts.

8. If your state uses your Social Security number as your driver's license number, ask to substitute another number. Do the same if your health insurance company or financial service provider uses it as your account number.

9. Ask about security and disposal procedures in your workplace and at offices and businesses that collect your personal information.

10. Order copies of your credit report every year from each of the three major credit-reporting agencies or through AnnualCreditReport.com (see inset). You are entitled by law to one free report each year, so take advantage of this important program.

11. Make a list of all of your credit card and bank account numbers with customer service numbers and keep them in a safe place.

12. Check financial statements promptly and report problems immediately. Follow up with creditors if your bills don't arrive on time. It could mean a thief has stolen your account and changed your billing address to cover his tracks.