The numbers are on the rise, so how do you prepare for the horror of identity theft? Follow these steps to help minimize the risk of identity theft:
Check your home mailbox daily, and drop your outgoing mail into a secure postal mail box only. Also, pay attention to your billing cycles; identity thieves may change your billing address, so a late bill may indicate a problem.
Personal items
Carry only what you need in your wallet or purse and keep an itemized list of those items on paper. In the event of a mishap, you’ll know who should be notified and the phone numbers to call to cancel the accounts.
If your wallet is lost or stolen:
- Call your credit card company immediately and have that particular card cancelled.
- File a police report in the jurisdiction in which your property was stolen. This will help provide proof of immediate action to your credit card providers.
- Call the three national credit-reporting organizations as well as the Social Security Administration so that a fraud alert can be placed on your name and Social Security number. By doing so, any company that checks your credit will know to contact you by phone before approving any credit transactions. The numbers to call are:
- Equifax: (888) 766-0008
- Experian: (888) 397-3742
- TransUnion: (800) 680-7289
- Social Security Administration: (800) 772-1213
Personal information
Give out on a “need to know” basis only, and only to legitimate businesses. Omit your Social Security number and driver’s license number on your bank checks. If required to use your Social Security number as an account number, request an alternate identifier. Finally, invest in a shredder for destroying documents that contain personal information.
Computer
Regularly update your virus protection software or use a firewall program. Before you dispose of your old computer, delete personal information by using a “wipe” utility program to “clean” all the information off your hard drive.
Review your credit history annually
It can take months to learn that someone has applied for credit in your name. To stay up-to-date on your credit history, review your credit record at least once a year.