Protecting Your Identity

Identity theft is a growing epidemic that can ruin your credit and disrupt your life. But there are several steps you can take to help protect yourself against identity thieves:

Thoroughly examine your credit regularly.

You can verify your credit reports twice a year to ensure all credit accounts that exist in your name are valid at www.annualcreditreport.com.

Request that a telephone call be made to you before credit is approved.

Add a statement to your credit file requesting a telephone call be made to you before credit is approved. This may deter some identity thieves from using your credit history to purchase goods, but this measure will also prevent you from gaining immediate credit without calling first.

• Equifax (1-800-525-6285)
• Experian (1-888-397-3742)
• TransUnion (1-800-680-7289)

Shred or secure all personal information.

Identity thieves can find everything they need to steal your identity by going through your trash. Shred every personal document before throwing them away and keep important identifying information such as bank statements, pay stubs, deposit slips, credit card statements, etc. in a secure place.

Watch your mail.

Anyone can easily access your personal information from the mail. Consider purchasing a locked mail box or you can choose not to receive some pre-approved credit offers by calling 1-888-567-8688.

Purge your wallet.

Carry only the credit/debit card you need for day-to-day use in your wallet and leave all others at home in a secure place. Make a photo copy of the fronts and backs of all your credit cards to keep in your secure place so all credit information is easily accessible if you need to cancel or revise your accounts. NEVER carry your social security card in your wallet, always keep it in a secure location.

Always Check ID.

Write this comment on the back of all your credit cards in black marker instead of signing your name on the "Authorized" signature strip. Retailers should automatically ask for your ID but it never hurts to remind them.

Only provide personal information online if it is over a secure line.

You will know a line is secure when a pop-up window appears that advises you are entering a secure site. NEVER send credit card information, your social security number or driver's license number in a non-secure email and immediately delete any emails from people you don't know who may be asking for this information.

Monitor your social security and driver's license numbers.

Don't provide either number to anyone unless you trust the person/institution you are providing it to.

Watch closely when your credit card is swiped.

Less trustful retail employees use a device called a skimmer that collects your personal information from the magnetic strip.

To learn more about the crime of identity theft, visit www.ftc.gov.