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According to The Javelin Strategy & Research Center's 2009 study, identity theft is on the rise, affecting almost 10 million victims in 2008 (a 22% increase from 2007).
ID theft can happen to anyone, and it can come in all shapes and sizes. Here is some advice to help you protect yourself.
- Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, write 'PHOTO ID REQUIRED.'
- When you are writing checks to pay your credit card bill, DO NOT put the complete account number on the 'For' line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have access to it.
- Put your work phone number on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a P.O. Box, use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a P.O. Box, use your work address. Never have your Social Security number printed on your checks. You can add it if it’s necessary. But if you have it printed, anyone can get it.
- Place the contents of your wallet on a photo copy machine. Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place.
Carry a photocopy of your passport when you travel either here or abroad. We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed in stealing a name, address, social security number, credit cards.
- Protect your mail by removing it from your mailbox as soon as possible. Consider using a locked mailbox.
- Shred any discarded paperwork that contains personal identifiers or financial information, including preapproved credit card and loan applications.
- Stop pre-approved credit offers by calling the Credit Reporting Industry at 1-888-567-8688.
- Be aware of your surroundings when using ATM cards, making credit card purchases, using telephone credit card numbers and utilizing pin numbers or passwords.
- Carefully review your bills, bank statements, credit card statements and other financial accounts to ensure that all balances and receipts match and no activity is unaccounted for.
If identity fraud seems to have happened to you, you can limit the damage it can cause.
Cancel your credit cards immediately. And the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them.
File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc. were stolen. This proves to credit providers that you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation.
Call the three national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name. Call the Social Security fraud line number also. The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen, and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.
Here are some helpful numbers to have on hand:
Equifax (national credit reporting organization): 1-800-525-6285
Experian (formerly TRW) (national credit reporting organization): 1-888-397-3742
Trans Union (national credit reporting organization): 1-800-680 7289
Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271
Federal Trade Commission: 1-877-ID-THEFT
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