How to Prevent
IDENTITY THEFT

Veronica N. Kittok enjoys scaring people with tales of identity theft, a crime that affects 1,500 new people each day. It's part of her job as Hibernia National Bank's corporate privacy officer. ... Kittok said, “The average high-tech crime nets far more than a traditional bank robbery. And it happens without the victim's immediate knowledge. These criminals look for specific targets. ... Consumers are liable for only the first $50 in fraudulent charges, but it could take as long as three years and $800 or more for people to repair their credit rating.”
Excerpted from The Beaumont Enterprise (TX) – 16 March 2002

Many identity theft victims are helpless as thieves pirate private information that banks, credit-card companies, merchants, the government and others don't guard closely enough. Victims trying to clear their names often get little help from credit-card companies, which are insured against fraud and so have little incentive to fight it. Credit-card companies and other institutions rarely notify customers when security breaches occur. The credit industry, many critics complain, is like a sleeping baby-sitter. Entrusted with sensitive information, creditors carelessly hand out credit cards and offer personal information to the highest bidder.
Excerpted from The Philadelphia Inquirer – 22 December 2003

Protection against identity theft has not improved since then. It’s always an escalating battle of wits between criminal experts and security experts. Making matters worse are the actual credit, banking, and medical industry employees bribed to steal information.

Despite the industries' sloppy protection against identity theft, there is still quite a lot you can do.

QUESTION:
Do you know how to protect yourself?

Scroll down to find the Top 16 ways to stop identity theft - it's ALL you need to know...

V

V

V

V

V

V

V

V

ANSWER:
Though the cases of identity theft (or ID theft) reported above are beyond your control, you can still reduce the overall threat and damage by carefully monitoring your monthly bank and credit card accounts – and guarding access to your personal information – by following the 16 ways to prevent identity theft listed below.

By the way, beware of the sneaky ads offering “free” credit reports (with hidden charges) and "inexpensive" monitoring. Though taking smaller bites, those vultures will rip you off too while promising you protection against identity theft. Credit-monitoring services are not only ineffective but also wildly overpriced. Do NOT trust ANY ad.

The three credit agencies, Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union will each give you a FREE annual credit report. There is NO need to PAY.

Compare the reports from all three credit agencies. You'll be surprised at how they differ (usually in small ways on long-closed accounts, etc.) and you'll get a good idea of the credit industry's overall sloppiness. And getting them to correct the errors usually takes many efforts.

To get all three reports at once, go to www.AnnualCreditReport.com. But there are problems with them, too. Though the law requires credit bureaus to give you a free credit report, they're not required to give your credit score. Some credit bureaus offer to sell you a credit score while you're ordering your credit report. Others pitch credit-monitoring services.

Some consumers think they can't get their credit reports unless they purchase the extras. Realize that you're not required to buy anything. Just skip the ads and go to the section for ordering all three of your reports. Go to www.ftc.gov/freereports for more information about your right to free credit reports.

If you suspect that you’re a victim of identity theft, contact AnnualCreditReport.com as well as Equifax at www.equifax.com/freecreditreport or 800-525-6285, Experian at www.experian.com/reportaccess or 888-397-3742, Trans Union at www.transunion.com or 800-680-7289, and the Social Security Administration (SSA) at www.socialsecurity.gov or 800-269-0271.

How to REPORT Identity Theft

For further help, contact www.idtheftcenter.org, www.privacyrights.org, and www.callforaction.org or 866-ID-Hotline (866-434-6854).

By now you can see that it's far better to know:

How to PREVENT Identity Theft

Online "phishers" send an email or pop-up message that claims to be from a business or organization that you deal with – for example, your Internet service provider (ISP), bank, online payment service, or even a government agency. The message usually says that you need to “update” or “validate” your account information. It might threaten some dire consequence if you don’t respond. The message directs you to a Web site that looks just like a legitimate organization’s site, but it isn’t. The purpose of the bogus site? To trick you into divulging your personal information so the operators can steal your identity and run up bills or commit crimes in your name. ... Do not reply or click on the link in the message. Never email personal or financial information. Use anti-virus software and a firewall.
Excerpted from the Federal Trade Commission's web site at www.ftc.gov

1. Destroy all documents with personal information before discarding them where snoops can find them. Get a paper shredder.
2. Remove your name from the marketing lists of Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union (see web addresses above) – sources of many unsolicited pre-approved credit applications by goimg to www.optoutprescreen.com or 888-567-8688.
3. Do not click on "Remove from list" email messages, it validates your email address and increases spam.
4. Have your name taken off direct mailing lists by writing to the Direct Marketing Association - Mail Preference Service - PO Box 9008 - Farmington NY 11735.
5. Demand that creditors or landlords remove your Social Security Number (SSN) from all paperwork, and have your original credit report shredded before your eyes. They need to keep only your name and credit score.
6. Order products online only on a secure web site beginning with https:// (not the usual http://), and with a closed padlock icon on the bar near the top of the screen. Other tips are available at www.nyc.gov/consumers.
7. Identity thefts often begin with insiders at retailers who sell the information on customers' checks or credit cards. It's better to pay with cash or a debit card (be discreet while typing in your pin number).
8. When writing checks to pay for your credit card accounts, include only the last four digits of your account number so not everyone in the banking system will have access to your complete number.
9. Don’t sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, write in "PHOTO ID REQUIRED."
10. When ordering new checks, put your first initial and last name, your work address, and your work phone number. Never have your SSN printed on your checks.
11. Never carry your SSN card in your wallet. Don’t use your SSN on your driver's license, and say no when businesses want to use your SSN for ID.
12. Identity thefts often begin with a stolen box of new bank checks in your mailbox. Pick them up at your bank instead.
13. Don't put outgoing mail in your mailbox. Perhaps get an anti-theft/anti-vandal curbside mailbox available for $800 at www.mailtheftsolutions.com or for $350 at www.energytechlabs.com. Or receive all your mail at a Post Office Box. Identity theft victims know it's worth the inconvenience.
14. Beware of a caller claiming to be a court jury coordinator and threatening you with an arrest warrant because you didn't show up for jury duty. If you protest that you never received a summons for jury duty, the caller asks for your SSN and date of birth to “verify and cancel” the arrest warrant. If you comply, kiss your ID goodbye.
15. Photocopy and safely store both sides of your driver’s license, credit card, etc. along with the toll-free phone numbers to call (immediately) if your wallet is lost or stolen. Include all the credit agencies and SSA contact info listed above as well. Immediately notify the police in the jurisdiction where your wallet was stolen or lost.
16. Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software, a firewall, and remember that scammers disguise themselves as friends and there's often no way to confirm who is on the other end of the user name.

Finally, beware of a “Good Samaritan” calling you to say he found your lost or stolen wallet and wanting you to come retrieve it – sometimes it’s a trap to rob or rape you. You can meet in the parking lot of the local police station – a criminal won’t want to meet there, but a legitimate Good Samaritan won’t care.

OTHER Ways to Prevent Identity Theft

Since overlapping layers of security provide superior protection from all types of home invasions, you can supplement your monitored ADT house alarm with Security Products - Simple Electronic and Security Products - Door Reinforcement.

Contact Us for Michael Edward Loftus Sr to speak to your group.

Privacy Statement: I will never give your email address to anyone. Promise.

Forward this to anyone you know who needs it.

PERMISSION TO REPRINT if you include the following LIVE link: Reprinted from the free *www.Crime-Safety-Security.com* newsletter.

Return from Identity Theft to Newsletter Archive
Return from Identity Theft to Crime-Safety-Security.com HOME PAGE