Preventing Identity Theft

How to Prevent it from Happening to You

  • Don’t sign the back of your credit card. Write "See I.D." and be prepared to show identification.
  • Get a credit card with your photograph on the front.
  • Do not write your ATM PIN number on your card or carry it in your wallet.
  • Prevent pre-approved credit card offers from being sent to you by calling 1-888-5-OPT-OUT.
  • Keep track of all your purchases. Read your credit card and bank account statements thoroughly.
  • When in doubt, pay with cash.  Use cash instead of credit cards as much as possible, especially at restaurants and other places where the card is out of your sight at times.
  • When traveling, use pre-paid calling cards rather than your credit card for phone calls.
  • Do not put outgoing bills or mail containing checks in your home mailbox or blue curbside post office mailboxes. Going inside the post office or handing it to a mail carrier are the safest means.
  • Buy a shredder for personal or financial documents so that "dumpster-diving" felons cannot find your discarded documents intact.
  • Choose PIN numbers and passwords that have combinations of letters and numbers. 
  • Do not use your mother’s maiden name as a PIN.  It is easy for others to find and is the most frequently-abused level of security.
  • Do not carry your social security card.
  • Do not order checks with pre-printed information such as your phone number, social security number or driver's license number.  If you must, put your cell phone number on your checks.  Your home number can be searched on an internet search engine revealing where you live, and personal information about you.
  • Do not announce your name and phone number on your answering machine.
  • Do not leave identifying information out in hotel rooms while traveling.
  • Don't give out personal information while talking in public on a cell phone.
  • Do not put your entire account number in the memo section of your checks when paying a creditor.  Put the last four digits of your account number.
  • Never sell an old computer with personal information at a yard sale or in the classifieds.  It is possible to retrieve information from a hard drive that has been reformatted.
  • Be suspicious of telephone solicitors.  Never provide information unless you have initiated the call. If a bank or credit institution calls you, get the name and number and call them back, rather than give them any information on an incoming call.
  • Request copies of your credit report at least once a year. 

Credit Reporting Company Contact Information

Equifax

P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA
30374-0241

Order Credit Report: 1-800-685-1111
Report Fraud: 1-800-525-6285

Experian

P.O. Box 2002
Allen, TX
75013

Order Credit Report: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
Report Fraud: 1-888-EXPERIAN

Trans Union

760 Sproul Road
P.O. Box 390
Springfield, PA 19064-0390

Order Credit Report: 1-800-888-4213
Report Fraud: 1-800-680-7289

 

 

  • Printer-friendly version