Minimizing your risk:
By managing your personal information wisely, cautiously and with an awareness of the issue, you can help guard against identity theft. Tips:
New! ID theft brochure in Adobe format.
Before revealing personal information, ask how it will be used and if it is going to be shared with others. Ask if you have a choice whether that your information will be used.
Pay attention to billing cycles. If a credit card bill does not show up, a identity thief may have taken over your account and changed your billing address to cover his tracks.
When using a password for a back account or ATM, avoid using easily available information like your mother’s maiden name, birth date, SSN, telephone number or consecutive numbers.
Carry only credit cards and personal information cards that you use.
Do not give out personal information on the phone, through the mail or over the internet unless you know who your dealing with. Identity thieves may pose as a representative of a bank or government institution. Remember legitimate organizations don’t need to ask you for personal information, they should have that.
Store personal information in a safe place. An identity thief may pick through your trash to gain information. Shred or tear up your credit card receipts, credit card applications, insurance forms, bank statements or any other piece of paper with personal information.
Only give out your SSN when absolutely necessary. Also, don’t carry your SSN card, store it in a safe place
If victimized:
Contact your creditors and advise them that your credit card was stolen or used unauthorized. Also, find out if them have been used or tampered with.
Contact Banks and let them know.
Contact the fraud department of each of the three major credit bureaus and identify yourself as a theft victim. Ask them to place a “Fraud Alert” into your file. Request a copy of your credit report to check for inaccuracies.
File a report with the police department in your area or where the theft took place. Be sure to then get a copy to give to the bank, credit agencies and various lenders.
*The police may not be able to solve the identity theft case but taking these step may reduce the impact on your credit future and rating.
Credit Bureaus
Equifax
www.equifax.comTo order a report, call: 800.685.1111
P.O.Box 105069, Atlanta, GA 30348
To report fraud, call: 800.525.6285
Experian www.experian.com
To order a report, call: 888.EXPERIAN
P.O.Box 9532 Allen, TX 75013
To report fraud, call: 888.EXPERIAN
Trans Union www.transunion.com
To order a report, call: 800.888.4213
P.O.Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834
To report fraud, call: 800.680.7289
