Top Tips for Thwarting Identity Theft
Identity theft can happen to anyone. Here are some tips to protect your identity, and some tips to follow if you think your identity has been stolen.
How to Prevent Identity Theft
Here are some tips that make it harder for identity thieves to compromise your identity.
Keep your personal information personal.
Identity thieves want to steal your personal information, such as your:
· Social Security number
· credit card numbers
· bank account numbers
· loan account numbers
· driver's license number
· date of birth
· address
· phone number
· health insurance information
To keep your personal information personal:
· Don't give your personal information to anyone you don't know or trust.
· Don't put your personal information on anything that an unauthorized person might see. For example, don't put your Social Security number on checks.
· Use a shredder to dispose of any paperwork that contains your personal information.
Protect yourself online.
· Install protective software on your computer.
· Don't give any online store your credit card number, unless you are confident that the site is secure.
· Don't give any personal information online to anyone you don't trust.
· Don't open any email messages that look suspicious.
· Make your passwords for your online accounts hard to guess.
Check your statements.
· Check your bank account, credit card, and other monthly statements for any transactions or purchases that aren't familiar.
· If you see any purchases or transactions that aren't familiar, contact your bank or credit card company.
Check your credit.
At least once a year, get a copy of your credit report and check it for any errors, any accounts that aren't familiar, and any other activities that you didn't authorize, such as an address change.
What to Do If Your Identity Is Stolen
Even if you take the right precautions, your identity may still be stolen. The good news is that there are steps you can take to make things right. The sooner you act, the easier it is to keep your financial good name from being tarnished.
Contact credit bureaus.
Contact the credit bureaus to report the identity theft. These credit bureaus are Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
Contact your financial institutions.
Contact any banks, credit card companies, mortgage or loan companies, or any other financial institutions you work with. Ask them to review recent transactions with you to see if there were any
Contact law enforcement.
Call your local police department to report the identity theft and file a police report. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Federal Trade Commission, and U.S. Secret Service can also help you protect your identity and stop identity theft. Call the toll free ID Theft Hotline-1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338) to file a complaint.
Put a fraud alert on your credit.
You may be able to "freeze" your credit, which means that no one can access your credit record or apply for credit under your name unless you approve. A fraud alert or freeze won't hurt your credit.
Monitor your credit report closely.
Get a copy of your credit report 90 days after you report the identity theft incident to see if there has been any more suspicious or unauthorized activity, and to find out what steps you need to take to fix your credit.
These are general recommendations not applicable to all financial situations. Every financial situation is unique. Further, the suggestions and recommendations contained within the content provided are not an assurance of any future result. Be sure to discuss your specific financial circumstances with a legal or financial expert. Contact us for more information.
