| Identity Theft occurs when someone wrongfully uses | | | | security card, or passport, unless necessary |
| your personal identification to obtain credit, loans, | | | | 11.Do not put your telephone number on your checks. |
| services, even rentals and mortgages in your name. | | | | 12.Do not put your credit card account number on the |
| They may even commit crimes while impersonating | | | | Internet (unless it is encrypted on a secured site.) Don't |
| you! | | | | put account numbers on the outside of envelopes, or |
| Identity theft can be an overwhelming frightening | | | | on your checks. |
| experience if it happens to you. But the good thing are | | | | 13. Take your name of promotional lists. |
| there are ways to fix it as well as avoid it. | | | | Experian: (888) 567-8688 |
| Prevention | | | | Equifax: (888) 567-8688 |
| 1. Buy a cross-cut type shredder - These in-expensive | | | | TransUnion: (888) 567-8688 |
| shredders usually range from $30 to $80. Shred all | | | | Write to the following to get off promotional lists: |
| your important papers and mail. Especially | | | | Direct Marketing Association |
| pre-approved credit card applications. Also shred your | | | | Mail Preference Service |
| credit card receipts. | | | | P. O. Box 9008 |
| 2.Dumpster Diving - Never throw anything away that | | | | Farmingdale, NY 11735 Direct Marketing Association |
| contains personal information. Anything that identifies | | | | Telephone Preference Service |
| you personally should be shredded. | | | | P. O. Box 9014 |
| 3.ATM's and Phone Calls - Believe it or not people | | | | Farmingdale, NY 11735 |
| actually shoulder surf for pin numbers. Beware and be | | | | 14. Consider making your phone an unlisted number or |
| careful when giving personal information in public. | | | | just use an initial. |
| 4.Check Delivery - Have your checks delivered to | | | | These are just a few ways to keep yourself safe |
| your bank. Avoid having them sent to your house, as | | | | from fraudulent thieves. Also remember everyone is |
| they have been known to be stolen and altered with | | | | entitled to one free credit report per year. |
| an acid wash. | | | | Below are 3 of the major credit bureaus: |
| 5.Don't Mail checks from home - Drop them in at a U.S | | | | Credit Reporting Bureaus |
| Mailbox or Post offices. These also are easy to alter | | | | EQUIFAX |
| by an acid wash. | | | | P. O. Box 105873 |
| 6.Cancel old credit cards - Cancel all credit cards that | | | | Atlanta, GA 30348 |
| you have not used in the last 6 months. Open credit is | | | | Order Report# (800) 685-1111 |
| a prime target to thieves. | | | | Fraud # (800) 525-6285 |
| 7. Use Passwords! - Make sure not to use your | | | | Web site: |
| mothers maiden name. Also make sure to use | | | | EXPERIAN (formerly TRW) |
| something hard to guess like words and numbers. | | | | P. O. Box 2104 |
| 8. Get a post office box or locked mailbox. | | | | Allen, TX 75013-2104 |
| 9. Protect your information - When at a doctors office | | | | Order Report# (888) 397-3742 |
| etc. make sure they protect your information and | | | | Fraud # (800) 301-7195 |
| shred other documents. | | | | Web site: |
| 10.Empty your wallet of all extra credit cards and social | | | | TRANSUNION CORPORATION |
| security numbers, etc. Do not carry any identifiers you | | | | P. O. |
| do not need. Don't carry your birth certificate, social | | | | |