| When my husband and I were in the process of | | | | at $50. However, with debit cards, the amount of your |
| purchasing our home, we received a disturbing call | | | | liability depends on how quickly you report the fraud. |
| from our mortgage broker. He called to tell us that our | | | | Spending Power |
| credit report had come back with some derogatory | | | | Never leave your purse or wallet in the car, even if it is |
| information. There was a string of unpaid credit card | | | | hidden from sight. And keep a minimum number of |
| bills and other monies owed that turned up on our | | | | credit cards in your wallet -- and try to avoid carrying |
| report. The mortgage broker suspected fraud, | | | | your checkbook with you unless you need it for a |
| because he also saw on the same report we were | | | | specific purchase that day. If your wallet should be lost |
| paying our other accounts on time and in full. It turned | | | | or stolen, report it immediately to your bank and credit |
| out that a former neighbor had stolen my identity. By | | | | card companies. Protect your credit rating by calling |
| the time the police caught up with her she had racked | | | | the credit bureaus to request that a fraud alert be put |
| up two thousand dollars in credit card charges, rented | | | | on your file. |
| an apartment, had a phone installed and acquired utility | | | | Protect Your Plastic |
| services, all under my name. We were alleviated from | | | | After you make a purchase, don't put your credit card |
| the responsibility of the credit card charges after | | | | receipts in the same bag with the merchandise. If the |
| proving that I did not make them. It took three months | | | | bag is stolen the thief could use the receipt to |
| to clear the mess up. Because we had a credit report | | | | purchase more merchandise somewhere else. Be |
| done for our loan, we found out about the fraud and | | | | very careful when ordering merchandise over the |
| were able to stop things before they got out of hand. | | | | internet. Order from reputable companies that use |
| If we had not found out, we would have had a much | | | | secure servers. Always save your credit card receipts |
| bigger problem on our hands. | | | | to match against your monthly statement so you can |
| An Epidemic | | | | easily recognize any purchases you didn't make -- |
| Identity theft is a crime that has become rampant in | | | | dispute any unauthorized purchases immediately. Pay |
| the United States. Between November of 1999 and | | | | attention to your billing cycles, and follow up with |
| June of 2001, the FTC reported that 69,370 people | | | | creditors if your bills do not arrive on time. And keep |
| were victims of identity fraud. The majority of the | | | | track of when your cards expire to make sure your |
| victims were between the ages of 20 and 49. The | | | | new card arrives in the mail. Contact your credit card |
| states with the highest number of incidences were | | | | companies if you do not receive your new or |
| California, new york, Texas and Florida, in that order. | | | | renewed credit cards. |
| Identity theft can happen to anyone. Many law | | | | Important Documents |
| enforcement officials believe that due to the | | | | Keep items with personal information -- social security |
| clandestine nature of this crime, most people are at | | | | numbers, vital records, financial statements -- in a safe |
| risk of becoming a victim without even knowing it. | | | | place, such as a locked box, safe, or safe deposit box. |
| There are, however, some precautions you can take | | | | When you no longer need the information, shred it. Do |
| to minimize your chances of being a target. | | | | the same to pre-approved credit card offers rather |
| Your Social Security Number (SSN) | | | | then tossing them in the trash for someone to retrieve. |
| This is a key piece of information to identity theft. Don't | | | | Safe Mailing |
| give out your social security number unless it is | | | | When mailing applications or paperwork with personal |
| appropriate, like to an employer or for obtaining credit. | | | | information put them in a u.S. Postal box or leave then |
| Many companies ask for your social security number | | | | with a postal carrier. Don't drop paid bills in a public |
| for identification purposes. That is not lawful or | | | | mailbox -- take them to the post office to be mailed. |
| necessary. Refuse to give out your ssn in | | | | Install a locked mailbox at your office or home to keep |
| circumstances like this and offer other kinds of | | | | people from snatching your mail. Never write your |
| identifiers instead. Many of the cards you carry could | | | | social security number, account number or any other |
| have your social security number on them. Take a | | | | personal information on a check or outside of an |
| look at your student i.D., work i.D., military i.D. And your | | | | envelope. And be sure to contact the post office |
| health insurance card. Try to have an arbitrary id | | | | immediately if your mail suddenly stops coming. |
| number assigned to you in place of your SSN. Never | | | | Keep an Eye Out |
| have your social security number printed on your | | | | Order a copy of your credit report from the three |
| checks. And always be sure to shred any document | | | | major credit reporting agencies every year. Make sure |
| you throw away that has your SSN on it -- no matter | | | | the information in them is accurate and includes only |
| what. | | | | those activities you've authorized: |
| Know Your Rights | | | | Equifax 1-800-685-1111 |
| Before giving out any personal information, find out | | | | Experian 1-888-397-3742 |
| how it will be used and if it will be shared with others. | | | | Trans union 1-800-888-4213 |
| Ask each company about its privacy policies and | | | | And don't toss all your monthly bills right away -- |
| information practices. Be especially careful with your | | | | review your phone bills and cellular phone bills each |
| bank -- find out the exact circumstances under which | | | | moth for any unauthorized use. You will want to keep |
| your bank would provide your account information to a | | | | statements for one year as a record of activity. And |
| third party. When filling out a loan or credit application, | | | | compare your atm receipts and cashed checks with |
| ask how the company disposes of them. Make sure | | | | your periodic bank statements to check for |
| they are shredding your financial statements rather | | | | unauthorized transfers or charges. If you do find |
| than just throwing them in the trash. | | | | fraudulent activity on any accounts, go to the ftc's |
| Being Smart with Bank Cards | | | | web site (listed at the end of this article) and get a |
| Don't keep your ATM's personal identification number | | | | copy of their id theft affidavit to report any |
| in your wallet. When using an ATM machine, take note | | | | unauthorized accounts that are opened in your name. |
| of those around you and be careful not to let anyone | | | | When the Worst Happens |
| see you enter your password. And always be sure to | | | | Your diligence in these matters will help to diminish the |
| take your receipt with you -- don't leave it by the ATM | | | | amount of liability and damage you will incur should you |
| machine. Don't use easy to discover passwords or pin | | | | become a victim of identity theft. If you do find that |
| numbers such as birthdays, telephone numbers or | | | | you have become a victim of identity theft, please visit |
| addresses. And carefully check bank statements as | | | | the websites listed below for help. Until there are better |
| soon as they come in and dispute any unauthorized | | | | safeguards in place to keep personal information out |
| purchases immediately. Your liability increases if you | | | | of the hands of thieves, we all need to be on our |
| don't report debit card fraud immediately. Most people | | | | guard. Remember, it can happen to anyone. |
| know that with credit card fraud, their liability is capped | | | | |