How to Prevent Identity-Theft

In order to prevent Identity-Theft, you can take the following steps:

- Be aware of your trash. Make sure you shred any sensitive information before you discard it. This includes bank statements, charge receipts and offers for credit cards

- Opt-out of receiving un-solicited credit offers from the three main credit reporting agencies Opt-out to prevent identity-theft
- Deposit bill payments and checks in a Post Office mail box. Never send from home where they can be stolen from your mail box. Checks can be washed clean with chemicals (acetone) and used to take money from your bank account. The ink in Gel pens is the only ink which is resistant to such washing

- Guard your social security number, to help prevent identity-theft. Keep your social security card in a safe place and do not carry it with you. Do not print your social security number on your checks. Do not give it out indiscriminately. Ask to use another identifier. After a company has legitimately run a credit check on you, ask to have the credit report returned to you or shredded. Order your social security earnings benefit statement once a year and check for fraud

- Likewise with your A.T.M. pin-numbers. Do not write them down or carry them in your wallet. Always protect your number when you are keying it in. (Use your body or hand to shield the keys. Likewise if you use a telephone calling card number from a public telephone)

- Make a note of the contents of your purse or wallet. Better still, photocopy credit cards and other sensitive information so that you have a record of account numbers and where to call if your purse is lost or stolen

- Protect your purse or wallet. Be careful to store them in a safe place at work. Never leave them unatttended in a car

- Only carry the amount of credit or debit cards that you actually need to use for that day. Consider using only one credit card for on-line transactions

- Never give out your credit card number over the telephone or the internet unless you have initiated the transaction and are comfortable with the business you are dealing with

- Examine all charges on your bank and credit card statements before paying them

- Order a copy of your credit report at least once a year to ensure that it is accurate and to monitor for fraud.

how to get free credit report
Consider subscribing to a credit monitoring service that will alert you to whenever someone applies for credit in your name