Do’s and Don’ts of Identity Theft Protection
Identity theft has now claimed over 10 million victims each year and the numbers continue to grow. There are a lot of government agencies gearing their efforts towards protecting consumers, some of which include the Federal Trade Commission, the FBI, US Secret Service and more. Though there are government agencies looking for ways to protect consumers, it is important that a consumer also understand how they can protect themselves. Here we discuss the Do’s and Don’ts of identity theft protection.
Do-
- *A consumer should order a copy of their credit report free each year from each of the three credit reporting agencies.
- *Every consumer should shred or cut up old credit cards, receipts, bank statements and any other financial documents prior to disposing of them.
- *Every consumer should close out old accounts that are not in use.
- *Request that your name be removed from any telemarketing call lists, mailers and even pre-approval firms.
- *Always keep any PIN numbers or passwords hidden and be cautious who is around when they are being used.
- *If you begin to not receive bills from current creditors, contact them immediately.
- *Always update computer virus software, anti-spyware software, install a firewall and only use secure internet web browsers.
Don’t-
- *Ever give out personal information (i.e. Social Security number, date of birth, etc) over the phone, through email, on the internet or even through mail unless you have initiated contact with the recipient.
- *Never carry your personal information such as Social Security numbers or PINs in your purse or wallet.
- *Never put your Social Security number on checks as your identifying information, even for tax payments.
Resources:
Identity Theft Protection Do’s and Don’ts, www.fbi.gov