No one is safe from identity theft
Identity theft accounted for 255,565 complaints received last year by the Federal Trade Commission, a whopping 37 percent of all consumer fraud complaints.
Identity theft can include fraud involving bank accounts, government benefits, medical services, utilities, loans and credit cards, with most states reporting credit-card fraud as the largest percentage.
Tips to Protect Yourself:
• Have only your first and middle initials printed on your bank checks, but sign your full name. Thieves won’t know what those initials mean.
•Don’t have new checks sent to your home address. Pick them up at the bank.
•Shred documents that contain personal information before you put them in the trash.
•Write only the last four digits of your account number on checks when paying a credit-card bill.
•Beware giving out your Social Security number as identification. Ask to use a password or other number instead.
•Order a copy of your credit report at least once a year, and check it for errors.
•Don’t give out information over the telephone unless you’re absolutely certain you know whom you’re talking to.
•Don’t let mail sit in your mailbox overnight.
Even if you’re diligent about protecting your private information, don’t assume you’ll be safe. A breach in the computer systems of credit-card and data collection companies can leave you extremely vulnerable.
•If you’ve been contacted by a debt collector for a debt that isn’t yours, received a bill for something you didn’t purchase, or are unexpectedly turned down for credit, someone could be using your identity. If a credit-card statement or other bill hasn’t arrived on time, it could be that your information has been altered by someone who’s stolen your mail.
•If you become a victim of identity theft, immediately close accounts that have been compromised. Notify the three main credit bureaus and have a fraud alert put on your account. Change all passwords (use something other than your mother’s maiden name or your street number.) File a report with the police and notify the FTC.
•For more information on identity theft, go to www.consumer.gov/idtheft
.