Tips To Avoid Becoming a Victim of Identity Theft

Identity theft, also called “account takeover fraud,” involves criminals stealing individuals’ personal credit information and assuming their identities by applying for credit in their names, running up huge bills, stiffing creditors and generally wrecking victims’ credit histories.

Vigilant monitoring of your personal information and knowing who you are doing business with are two of the best ways to avoid becoming a victim. Understanding how criminals get access to your personal information is your first line of defense. Consumers can avoid becoming victims by following some simple tips:

• Don’t give your Social Security number or other personal credit information about yourself to anyone who calls you. Criminals use this information to open new charge accounts posing as you.
• Tear up receipts, bank statements and unused credit card offers before throwing them away. Criminals can collect bits of information about you by going through your trash.
• Watch for missing mail and don’t mail bills from your own mailbox with the flag up. An identity thief may steal your mail and file a change of address form with your credit card company or the U.S. Postal Service.
• Review your monthly accounts regulary for any unauthorized charges.
• Order copies of your credit report once a year to ensure accuracy.
• When conducting business online, make sure your browser’s padlock or key icon is active.
• Don’t open e-mail from unknown sources and use virus detection software.
• Protect your PINs and passwords and change them frequently.
• Report any suspected fraud to your bank, credit card companies and the fraud units of the three credit reporting agencies immediately. The fraud unity numbers are: Trans Union (800) 680-7289, Experian (888) 397-3742 and Equifax (800) 525-6285. You may also contact the FTC’s ID Theft Consumer Response Center toll-free at (877) IDTHEFT.

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