Safekeeping Your Identity

There are a few quick and easy things you can do to protect yourself from identity theft. Shredding bills, using online banking, and selecting complicated passwords are just three of the many tips recommended by our fraud experts:

Basic precautions:

• Do not carry your Social Security with you; instead, store it somewhere safe, such as in a safety deposit box
• Buy a shredder and destroy sensitive documents, receipts, and mail
• Select complicated passwords that combine numbers and letters (i.e. 5ps98xw)
• Don't include your Social Security number or driver’s license number on your checks
• Only transmit your private data on secure online forms with “https” in the URL
• Install virus protection software on your computer
• Memorize your passwords and pin numbers; never write them down!
• Review your bank statements and credit card bills carefully for fraudulent charges
• Don't give out personal information over the phone
• Check all three of your credit reports every 6-12 months

Suggested precautions:

• Only carry a few credit cards in your wallet at a time
• Pick up new checks at the bank instead of having them mailed to your home
• Use online banking to check your accounts regularly and pay bills
• Pay attention to suspicious mail about credit and loan accounts
• Deposit outgoing mail in a locked mailbox or at the post office instead of leaving it in your home mailbox
• Change all your passwords every few months
• Install a locking mailbox so a thief can’t steal your mail
• Keep photocopies of your credit cards, ID cards, and other important documents in a secure place, such as in a safe deposit box
• Don’t open files or emails sent to you from unknown sources
• Use a credit card instead of a debit card for transactions
• Write “Ask for ID” on the back of your credit cards instead of signing them

Advanced precautions:

• Opt-out of receiving credit card offers in the mail by calling 1-888-5-OPTOUT
• Subscribe to a credit monitoring service that immediately alerts you to changes
• Install a firewall program on your computer
• Pay for purchases with cash instead of credit or debit cards
• Purchase identity theft insurance coverage
• Call the U.S. Postal Service at 1-800-275-8777 to request a mail hold if you are going out of town
• Change your account numbers and passwords after a divorce, or if you know that someone who had access to this data has a grudge against you; in general, you should never reveal passwords or sensitive personal information to anyone
• Residents of some states can request a “file freeze” to lock their credit report data
• Ask businesses about their security policies if they keep records about you
• Remove your name from mailing lists with the Direct Marketing Association
• Review your Social Security earnings and benefits statement carefully each year
• Ask to have your telephone number and address removed from phone books and reverse directories
• Order free copies of your police, employment, property, and other records from companies like ChoiceTrust

Following these precautions can help you guard against the prevalent and increasingly common crime of identity theft. As a wise man once said, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Return to Top