Protecting Yourself Identity Theft Fraud

  Identity theft or identity fraud is the fastest growing crime in the United States. It is the taking of a victim's identity for financial gain or to conceal the real identify of the perpetrator.

 All the thief needs is access to your Social Security number, your date of birth, or sometimes just your address and telephone number. With this information they can pretend to be you. They can open new credit card accounts, access your present bank accounts, rent a house or apartment, establish utility company accounts, and even obtain a job—all in your name.

 I had $10,000.00 taken out of my bank account when I visited Brazil a few years ago. I didn't even realize it until after I returned home I gave my debit card to my daughter to go to the grocery store and she said my card wouldn't work. I didn't think much about it, thinking the store was having a problem with their machine. The next day I tried to use it and again was denied. I immediately went to my credit union and was told the awful news.

Steps to take to make it more difficult for these thieves to obtain your personal information:

• Don't carry your Social Security number in your wallet or write your Social Security number on a check. Only give out your social security number when absolutely necessary. Some banks have it set up so you can give them a code that only you will know instead of asking for your social security number. Insurance companies can also do this.

• Health Insurance or Medicare Card: If you must carry an insurance card that includes you SSN or a Medicare card, photocopy the original card and cut it down to wallet size. Then blacken out with a sharpie pen or cut out the last four digits of the SSN on the copy. Carry the copy with you rather than the actual card.

• State Drivers Licenses: On December 17, 2005 a new law went into effect that applies to all State licenses, registrations, and identification cards issued after that date. If your license still uses your SSN as the ID number, you can request this to be changed. You don't need to wait until it expires to get one with a different number, though they may charge a fee.

Your Trash and Mail

• Always shred your charge receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance forms, checks and bank statements, expired charge cards, credit offers you get in the mail and any other documents which contain personal information. Some mail comes with checks already filled out in your name and someone could get a hold of these and write them out for cash.

• Mail: When mailing anything containing personal identifying information mail from the post office rather than in an unsecured mailbox. Promptly remove mail from your mailbox. If you are planning on being away from home arrange for someone else to collect your mail or contact the U.S. Postal Service to request a vacation hold. If you live in a small community of just a few thousand people do not be lulled into thinking theft doesn't occur where you live. Some of the quietest residential neighborhoods are the best targets for thieves.

Credit Cards

• Unsolicited Offers: To opt out of receiving prescreened offers of credit in the mail, call 1-888-567-8688. You will be asked to provide your SSN which the consumer reporting companies need to match you with your file. (I know this is scary to give your number over the phone).

• When you are on vacation notify your card company where you will be so they won't put a hold on charges that are occurring out of your normal usage area.

Shopping Online

 Protect your private information while shopping online. Look for a URL that begins with 'https://', or the words 'Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)" or a padlock in the status bar. These signs indicate that only you and the merchant can view your payment information.

Identity theft is a real threat but we can take steps to protect ourselves from this crime.