How to Reduce your chances of becoming a future victim of identity theft

To reduce your chances of becoming an identity theft victim, safeguard your personal information such as your Social Security number and your drivers license number.

The best defense against identity theft is checking your personal credit reports regularly. The process became easier because you can start requesting free copies of your credit reports.

The key is to take precautions and make it as difficult as possible for the fraudster to impersonate you. If you are unfortunate enough to be impersonated in this way, it is important to identify it as quickly as possible to prevent further fraud being committed and to take the appropriate action to resolve the situation. This will also give the police a better chance of catching the perpetrator.

How To Protect Yourself

Never carry your Social Security card, Social Security number, birth certificate or passport unless necessary.
Do not put your address, telephone number or driver's license number on a credit card sales receipt.
Social Security numbers or phone numbers should not be put on checks.
Identifying information should not be given over the phone or the Internet to someone you do not know or on a cellular or cordless phone.
Shred all personal and financial documents before placing them in the trash.
Get a copy of your credit report every year.
Keep your financial records out of sight.
Check monthly credit card statements for charges you did not make.
Keep a list, in a safe place, of all credit cards and bank accounts including the account numbers, phone numbers and expiration dates.
Make sure that your online purchase is processed on a secure server.
Carry only the credit cards you plan to use.
When you have applied for a new credit card, keep your eye on the mail and the calendar. If the card does not arrive within the appropriate time, call the credit card company.
If you are not interested in pre-approved credit offers, opt-out using the telephone number in our resource section.