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IDENTITY
THEFT – RESOURCES AND PREVENTION
According
to an article in the Jan > Feb 2004 issue of the “Catalyst”,
a professional accounting journal, in 2002 it is estimated
that identity theft cost Americans five billion dollars, while
at the same time costing financial institutions and businesses
over forty eight billion dollars. While it is impossible to
entirely protect yourself or your business from this terrible
crime, the following tips go a long way toward helping to
avoid identity theft:
• Put
outgoing mail directly in a locked mailbox. Don’t let
it sit in your mailbox at your house where criminals can steal
it.
• Obtain a Social Security Administration statement each
year and make sure the work history is yours, and any draws
against it were done by you.
• Keep copies of important documents in a lockbox
or safety deposit box.
• Guard your PIN numbers.
• Shred all financial solicitations.
• Watch billing cycles and call the provider if you don’t
receive bills when expected.
• Don’t disclose credit card or other financial
account numbers on a web site unless the site offers a secure
transaction.
• Store both cancelled and new checks in a safe place.
• Report lost or stolen checks, credit cards, and ID’s
immediately.
• Never carry your Social Security Card or other important
documents with you.
• Beware of mail or telephone solicitations that offer
prizes or awards, especially if they ask you for personal information
or financial account numbers.
• Don’t put your Social Security Number, or other
important information on your license, checks, or anything you
cannot keep with you.
• Check your credit report once a year:
o Equifax 800-685-1111
o Experian 888-397-3742
o Transunion 800-916-8800
• Opt out of pre-screened credit card offers. 888-5-optout
• Write the three major credit bureaus and ask them not
to share your personal information:
o Equifax, Inc., Options, PO Box 740123, Atlanta, GA 30374-0123
o Experion, Consumer Opt-out, 701 Experion Pkwy., Allen, Tx
75013
o TransUnion, Marketing List Opt Out, PO Box 97328, Jackson,
MS 39288-7328
• Remove yourself from the Direct Marketing Association’s
mailing, telemarketing, and e-mail lists at:
o www.thedma.org/consumers/offmailinglist.html
o www.thedma.org/consumers/offtelephonelist.html
o www.the-dma.org/consumers/offemaillist.html
• Register with the Federal Do-Not-Call list at www.ftc.gov/donotcall
If you
are currently a victim of identity theft, or if you have been
in the past, or if you are looking for more information, the
following are a good place to start:
•
USPS – http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors
• Federal Trade Commission – http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft
• U.S. Secret Service – http://www.secretservice.gov
• Department of Justice – http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/fraud/idtheft.html
• FDIC – http://www.fdic.gov/consumers
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