Protect Your Identity!

Alabama Nurse, Sep-Nov 2003

Crooks can take over your identity using your name, address, bank and credit card numbers, or social security number. Once they have any of this information, your address may be changed and new accounts opened in your name with credit card companies and banks. According to the FBI, this is the fastest growing white-collar crime in the US. This theft is often difficult to detect and equally difficult to apprehend the criminals. Protecting against this identity theft is chiefly your responsibility. The following offers some suggestion to keep you and your family safe.

* Carry only the identification and bank/credit cards you actually need.

* Destroy and cancel old, unwanted or unused credit cards.

* Call you credit card company immediately if your new card has not arrived.

* Do not keep passwords or PIN numbers on you, and do not write such information on debit or credit cards.

* Do not use any part of your SSN, address, birth date, or mother's maiden name as a PIN number.

* Never give your passwords or PIN numbers to anyone.

* Use hard to guess passwords and do not use the same password on everything. Don't use passwords that relate to family names, birth dates, SS numbers, addresses, or your job

* Be careful what you place in the trash such as marketing solicitations, address labels, bill stubs, etc.

* Shred all charge slips, credit card solicitations, statements, checks, and other sensitive information.

* Never carry your social security card with you. Guard the number and never write it on checks.

* Review monthly statement promptly and carefully. Report any discrepancies or a late arrival of the bill.

* Guard your mail. It is best to deposit outgoing mail at the post office (or box) rather than your mailbox. Remove mail promptly from your box.

* Never give private information to anyone unless you are sure there is a legitimate reason. Be especially cautious of anyone claiming to be a law enforcement official. Arrange to call them back using an official phone number that you can verify in the phone book.

* Do not give out personal data on the phone, through the mail, or on the internet unless you have initiated the call.

* Make sure that if you give your credit card on-line that it is a secure site.

* Never lend your passport to anyone.

* Periodically check your credit report.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is primary government agency dealing with identify theft. Call their toll free hotline at 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338) to speak to a consumer affairs counselor.