Protecting Yourself From Identity Theft

Common Ways ID Theft Happens

1. Dumpster Diving - The practice of rummaging through trash looking for bills, credit card offers, bank statements, or other paper with your personal information on it.
2. Stealing and Bribery - "Old-fashioned" stealing of wallets, purses, mail from home or business mailboxes, records from their employers, or paying employees to steal records.
3. Changing Your Address - Diverting your billing or account statements by completing a "change of address" form.
4. Skimming - Stealing credit/debit card numbers when you present your card as payment, by using a special device to capture the data on your card.
5. Phishing - The sending of email or pop-up messages that get you to reveal your personal information.

Ways to Deter ID Theft

1. Do not give out personal information over the phone, by mail or on the Internet, unless you are sure who you are dealing with and what they are going to do with your information. Ask about their Privacy Policy.
2. Do not click on links sent in unsolicited emails. Instead, type in the web address that you already know.
3. Use firewalls, anti-virus, and anti-spyware software on your home computer. Be sure to keep them up-to-date.
4. Keep your computer operating system up-to-date. Operating systems are continually improving security vulnerabilities.
5. Keep your Web browser software up-to-date. The current versions will have improved security features. For example, Internet Explorer 7.0 has anti-phishing abilities built in.
6. Avoid downloading programs or add-ons from unknown sources. These executable files may contain viruses or hidden programs such as spyware or keystroke loggers.
7. When shopping online, make sure the site is secured (uses encryption) before giving any personal or payment information. Look for the "lock" icon on the browser's status bar.
8. Put passwords on all of your accounts, including your bank, credit card, and phone accounts.
9. Do not use easy-to-guess passwords such as your birth date, mother's maiden name, telephone number, a set of consecutive number (1234), etc.
10. Do not share your passwords or your ATM/Debit card PIN.
11. Keep your Social Security number safe. Do not carry it in your wallet or print it on your checks. Whenever possible, question the need for your Social Security number and as if another identifier can be used instead.
12. Reduce the risk of loss. Carry with you only the identification and cards that you really need. Leave the others locked up.
13. Report lost or stolen cards or checks immediately.
14. Do not place outgoing mail in your mailbox. Instead, deposit it at a USPS mailbox or at the post office. Also, promptly retrieve your incoming mail, or if your mailbox is unattended for long periods every day, consider purchasing a Post Office Box.
15. Secure (lock up) your personal information at home.
16. Shred or burn any papers with personal information before discarding them.

How to Detect If You Are a Victim of ID Theft

1. Be alert to changes such as: bills or statements that do not arrive on time, receipt of unexpected bills or credit cards, denial of credit for no apparent reason, or phone calls or letters about items you did not purchase.
2. Review your financial accounts and statements promptly after they arrive. Contact the sender immediately if you find any unexpected activity.
3. Monitor your credit report. Federal law allows all consumers to get one free credit report from each of the three (3) major credit bureaus (Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian) annually. (Visit www.AnnualCreditReport.com or call 1-877-322-8228)

Protecting Yourself After ID Theft Happens

1. Place a "Fraud Alert" on your credit reports; this entitles you to free copies of your credit reports. Review the reports carefully, looking for inquiries from companies you have not contacted, accounts you did not open, and debts on your accounts that you cannot explain. The three nationwide consumer-reporting companies have toll-free numbers for placing an initial 90-day fraud alert. You only need to notify one of the companies; they will notify the other two. * Equifax: 1-800-525-6285 * Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742) * TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289 2. Contact your Bank and any other company whose accounts may have been compromised. Close any accounts that have fraudulently activity. þ Call each company and follow up in writing, with copies of supporting documents. þ Use the ID Theft Affidavit at www.ftc.gov/idtheft to support your written statement. þ Ask for verification that the disputed account has been closed and the fraudulent charges removed. þ Keep copies of documents and records of your conversations.
3. File a police report. Filing a report with law enforcement officials helps you with creditors who may want proof of the crime.
4. Report the theft to the Federal Trade Commission. Your report helps law enforcement officials across the country in their investigations.

* Online: www.ftc.gov/idtheft
* By phone: 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338) or TTY, 1-866-653-4261
* By mail: Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC 20580

To learn more about ID theft and to obtain additional information about how to respond to ID theft, please visit www.ftc.gov/idtheft or contact your bank.