| When Cmdr. Gloria Christensen retired from the Navy | | | | C is for Credit. Here are some tips for protecting your |
| at full disability due to a service-related head injury ten | | | | credit rating: |
| years ago, she thought the worst was over as she | | | | Check your credit report at least once a year. Here |
| began to return to some normalcy of life. Without | | | | are the names and phone numbers of the three major |
| family members nearby, she asked for - and was | | | | credit bureaus: Equifax (1-800-685-1111); Experian |
| granted - a custodian certified by the VA, to help her | | | | (1-888-397-3742), and TransUnion (1-800-916-8800.) |
| manage her financial affairs as she recovered. | | | | Expect to pay about $10 for each report - cheap |
| Now, a decade later, she has learned a bitter lesson | | | | insurance. |
| that she wants other veterans to know: Someone can | | | | If a credit card bill you're expecting doesn't arrive on |
| do tremendous - sometimes irreparable - damage to | | | | time, call the company to find out why - and have |
| you, just by having access to your social security | | | | them check your mailing address to see if someone |
| number. | | | | has filled out a change of address form without your |
| You see, while Christensen continued her recuperation, | | | | permission. |
| sustained financially by allotments from her tax-free | | | | Place passwords on your credit card, bank and phone |
| disability payments administered by her custodian, she | | | | accounts. Choose a combination of letters and |
| never dreamed that same custodian was using | | | | numbers that can't be guessed, and store any records |
| Christensen's Social Security number to buy and sell | | | | of the passwords securely. |
| stocks on the Internet -- racking up enough profits that | | | | Subscribe to a service, such as Privacy Guard, that |
| the IRS came after Christensen for over $200,000 in | | | | provides you with the contact information of each |
| back taxes. | | | | company that accesses your credit report. Abagnale |
| Now, after nine months of wrangling with lawyers, | | | | uses such a service, saying, "I consider their annual fee |
| federal tax specialists and her custodian who denied | | | | money well spent." |
| everything, Christensen is only $7000 poorer, sadder | | | | Cancel all unsolicited "pre-approved" credit cards. |
| and wiser. | | | | When renewing credit cards, bank cards, and |
| A UNIVERSAL NUMBER? | | | | telephone cards, always request the security code |
| "Your Social Security number was never meant to be | | | | immediately. |
| a universal number for all purposes," says New Mexico | | | | "Don't be surprised if you receive an unexpected call |
| State Representative Danice Picraux, who has | | | | from a credit card company asking about an unusual |
| introduced legislation in Christensen's home state to try | | | | purchase or series of purchases, even if you haven't |
| to staunch the bleeding-out of her constituents' | | | | lost your card," advises Picraux. "The company is just |
| resources through identity theft. Her NM House Bill 905 | | | | doing its job of protecting its customers. But don't give |
| - "Privacy Protection Act" -- will make it illegal in her | | | | out any information if they don't already have your |
| state for a business to require a customer to give his | | | | account number - a legitimate caller will already have |
| or her Social Security number as a condition of lease, | | | | that information." |
| purchase or provision of service. | | | | Never pay "up-front" for a loan or credit. The FTC |
| "There's a provision in this law that if an existing state | | | | warns, "Remember that legitimate lenders never |
| or federal law requires that a number be provided, | | | | 'guarantee' a loan or credit card before you apply, |
| then the person can ask for it and have it," says | | | | especially if you have bad credit, no credit, or a |
| Picraux, "but in the future, when you go to your | | | | bankruptcy." |
| doctor's office, and they ask for your Social Security | | | | Carefully look over credit card bills before paying them, |
| number, you don't have to give it and they still have to | | | | and personally reconcile your own bank statements |
| serve you." | | | | promptly upon receiving them. |
| A second provision in Picraux's proposal would forbid | | | | A is for Access: and anyone-friend, foe, family, or |
| the printing of more than the last five numbers of your | | | | stranger - who has access to any of your personal |
| credit card number on any receipt. "And no expiration | | | | documents has you at their mercy. |
| dates on the receipts," says Picraux. "Your credit card | | | | Take every credit card and every other ID card in |
| information is supposed to be yours and yours alone." | | | | your wallet and make a photocopy of front and back |
| NATIONAL CONCERN | | | | (spread several out on the machine and do them at |
| Such legislation reflects a concern that borders on | | | | once.) Keep in a locked, secure place in your home or |
| urgency. The Federal Trade Commission's annual | | | | safe deposit box. In addition, do not carry any credit |
| report about consumer complaint categories in 2002 | | | | cards or ID cards with you that you don't absolutely |
| says that identity theft topped the list of top ten fraud | | | | need - and never take your Social Security card with |
| issues, with 43 percent of the complaints. The | | | | you -keep it locked up too. |
| Department of Justice says that identity theft affects | | | | Report stolen or lost checks, credit cards, medical |
| between 500,000 and 700,000 Americans-up 40 | | | | cards, military ID cards, drivers' licenses, even library |
| percent from just last year-hundreds of thousands of | | | | cards immediately. |
| people with an average loss of $18,000 each. | | | | Make absolutely sure in your home that blank checks, |
| And cleanup - if it can be achieved - is expensive and | | | | bank statements, account information and other data |
| time consuming. According to Frank Abagnale - the | | | | are not accessible to guests, domestic help, tradesmen |
| clever crook-turned-crime-consultant whose life was | | | | and repair persons, and others. Consider buying a |
| recently chronicled in the movie, Catch Me If You Can | | | | lockbox with a tamper-proof lock for such documents. |
| -- getting just your credit report scrubbed of identity | | | | Scrutinize your personal and business check forms. |
| theft can take an average of $1,173 and 175 | | | | Abagnale says that annual check fraud losses exceed |
| man-hours. And since those man-hours probably won't | | | | 20 billion dollars. On his site, there is a list of services |
| be consecutive, Abagnale notes that "it can be months | | | | and check security features that are "must see." |
| or even years to regain financial health," during which | | | | Never mail your bill payments or checks from home. |
| time getting a job, obtaining loans and housing, even | | | | "They can be stolen from your mailbox and washed |
| writing checks for utility bills and groceries, can literally | | | | clean in chemicals," says Abagnale. "Take them to the |
| become a federal case. | | | | post office." |
| If you suspect or know you've been a victim of identity | | | | R is for Recognize: Be cautious about anyone |
| fraud, there are steps to take and no time to waste. | | | | unknown to you who approaches you to sell (or |
| But prevention is cheaper, easier, and more satisfying | | | | "give"!) you something, or who wants your private |
| than cleanup. | | | | information. |
| Don't minimize your personal risk. People you don't | | | | Don't give your Social Security number out on the |
| know and will probably never meet are actively looking | | | | phone, nor any other personal information to retailers |
| for credit card receipts in public trash cans; and | | | | or other strangers. |
| "dumpster divers" specialize in going through household | | | | Don't transact any business over the phone that you |
| and business trash. They can fill out a change of | | | | don't initiate, and then only to companies you know and |
| address form with the post office to divert your mail | | | | trust. Say, "Take me off your call list" to any |
| to another location while they spend on your credit | | | | telemarketer you don't want to hear from again.. |
| cards. They look for your business or personnel | | | | Know who you're dealing with. "Walk away from any |
| records at work. They can rob your home or use | | | | company that doesn't clearly state its name, physical |
| special software on your present - and discarded - | | | | address, and telephone number," advises the FTC. "A |
| computers. They can get your credit report by | | | | Web site alone or a mail drop box should raise |
| pretending to be a landlord or employer. They can get | | | | suspicions." |
| your birth certificate by posing as a lawyer, and create | | | | If you buy online, be sure the site is secure by reading |
| a new identity with your name. They can buy personal | | | | its privacy statements before purchasing or giving |
| information from dishonest employees of companies | | | | personal information. Use firewall software, especially if |
| that have a right to your information; or buy your | | | | you use high-speed Internet services. Update virus |
| personal information from any number of online sites | | | | protection software religiously. |
| that sell detailed facts about you. They can counterfeit | | | | To complete the word SCARS, here are specific tips |
| your checks or debit cards and drain your bank | | | | to keep your Social Security number (S) out of the |
| accounts. They can set up new bank accounts and | | | | wrong hands: |
| cell phones in your name. | | | | When asked for your Social Security number, ask |
| And then they can even file for bankruptcy under your | | | | questions. Say, "Why do you need that number? What |
| name to avoid the debts they've racked up using your | | | | happens if I don't give it to you? Can you accept any |
| name! | | | | substitute?" And if it's mandatory that you supply your |
| PROTECT YOURSELF! | | | | number, Abagnale advises you to request that your |
| Abagnale, Picraux, and government agencies have | | | | number be either truncated or obliterated on loan and |
| some suggestions in order to help you keep your good | | | | credit applications, and that "your original credit report |
| name good and your private information private. One | | | | be shredded before your eyes or returned to you |
| thing they all emphasize: Be proactive, and assume | | | | once a decision has been made." Abagnale says that |
| that somebody wants your private information. The | | | | a lender or retail manager needs to retain only your |
| best, cheapest way to protect yourself is to use a | | | | name and credit score to justify a decision to grant or |
| shredder (Abagnale advises a crosscut shredder) on | | | | deny your credit request. |
| every single piece of mail you don't intend to keep. | | | | Never put your Social Security number on checks, and |
| Tear covers off catalogs and shred the covers, along | | | | only put your first initial on them. "Thieves will not know |
| with any other piece of mail that contains your name, | | | | how to sign your checks and may not know if you are |
| address, account numbers or any other information. In | | | | male or female," advises Picraux. |
| particular, shred every credit card application you | | | | Order your Social Security Earnings and Benefits |
| receive and do not apply for; and when you cut up | | | | Statement once a year to check for fraud. The Social |
| expired credit cards, do not throw all the pieces away | | | | Security fraud hotline is (800) 269-0271. |
| at the same time or in the same place. | | | | And finally, the X-Files warning is appropriate: trust no |
| An easy way to remember the basics of protecting | | | | one. Although most identity theft occurs when a |
| yourself is with the acronym, SCARS: Sharing, Credit, | | | | stranger steals your personal information, you can lose |
| Access, Recognition and SS#. | | | | as much or more just from friends or family who have |
| S is for Sharing: which is what happens when you're | | | | access to your records and accounts. Even the |
| on any kind of mailing list. The fewer you're on, the | | | | bookkeeper or other entrusted person you've treated |
| more secure your personal information is. How to stay | | | | like family for decades-as Cmdr. Christensen ruefully |
| off them: | | | | discovered -- shouldn't be given carte blanche with |
| Contact every financial institution where you do | | | | your personal information, bank statements and bills. |
| business and tell them that you do not want them to | | | | "I've been doing this for 25 years," says Abagnale, "and |
| share any information about you without your written | | | | it's never the person who's worked for you for six |
| permission. | | | | months that rips you off for $25,000. It's always the |
| Check the boxes on any application form you fill out, | | | | long-trusted employee." |
| specifying that your information isn't to be | | | | IF SOMEONE STEALS YOUR NAME, DOCUMENTS, |
| disseminated. | | | | OR INFORMATION |
| Get your name off mailing lists by writing the Mail | | | | Immediately do the following: |
| Preference Service, PO Box 643, Carmel NY, 10512. | | | | Report the crime to your local police. Get a police |
| Cost is $5 for online registration; expect to see results | | | | report number. |
| in about 3 months. | | | | Keep a written record of all calls - time, date, who you |
| Get your phone number off call lists by writing the | | | | spoke to - and details of your conversations with |
| Telephone Preference Service, PO Box 1559, Carmel | | | | authorities, financial institutions, anyone you talk to about |
| NY 10512. | | | | the crime. |
| Be aware that grocery store and other "frequent | | | | Call your credit card issuers at once. Then follow up |
| buyer" cards reveal your buying habits and other | | | | with a letter repeating what you said on the phone and |
| information you may not want disseminated. Count the | | | | including the police report number. |
| cost: is that discount worth it? | | | | Call your bank immediately and follow up with a written |
| Think twice before entering any contests. The | | | | letter. |
| information -your name, address, phone number - is | | | | File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission's |
| almost certain to be sold to marketers. Don't believe it? | | | | Identity Theft Hotline (1-877-438-4338). |
| Enter a contest with a misspelling of your first name or | | | | Call the fraud units of credit reporting companies |
| add a non-existent apartment number, and wait and | | | | (TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax - see article above) |
| see just how much junk mail you get addressed that | | | | to place a fraud alert on your name and Social |
| way. | | | | Security number. |