Tips for Preventing Identity Theft
- Guard your social security number like it is your life. It is the key to your credit report and is the main target of many identity thieves.
- Constantly monitor your credit report. Not only does it contain your social security number, it lists your present and past employers, all account numbers (old and new), and your credit score.
- Buy a shredder and shred ALL your documents containing ANY personal information. Here are a few things that need attention: Credit card receipts, Bank Statements & Deposit Stubs, Pay Stubs, Utility Bill Stubs, Old Tax Returns, Credit Card Solicitations, and anything else containing your social security number.
- Try not to carry extra credit cards or identity documents when not needed.
- Remove your name from marketing lists of credit reporting bureaus and DMA. Learn more from our article on Fighting Telemarketers and Spammers!
- Photocopy (front and back) the contents of your wallet. Therefore, you will have all the information to all your cards in case your wallet is lost or stolen.
- Mail all your bill payments and checks at your local post office. Mail stolen from a mailbox is not a rare crime.
- DO NOT print your social security number on checks!
- ALWAYS look over your credit card statements before paying for them.
- Cancel any unused credit cards.
- NEVER EVER give your credit card number or your personal information over the phone unless you have initiated the call and/or trust the other person on the other line.
- Obtain your credit report as least once a year. Spending a couple of dollars on a credit report can save you thousands of dollars in trouble.
- Subscribe to a credit report monitoring service so that you are notified whenever someone applies for credit in your name.