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10 tips on avoiding id theft and credit fraud
1. 10 Tips on
AVOIDING ID
THEFT AND
CREDIT FRAUD
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2. Each year billions of dollars in credit fraud is perpetrated on
unsuspecting citizens. With so much personal information
publicly available (or easily available to someone with medium
computing skills) it is essential to develop good habits to prevent
your information from falling into criminal hands. It is possible for
someone to create an entire identity (get driver's license, etc.)
based on just a few pieces of information.
I know of an employee who sustained an on-the-job injury then
applied for disability. He was shocked when they turned him
down. According to Workmen's Compensation records he had
been collecting disability for the last year and a half. Someone
had gotten their hands on enough information to drain his
account!
3. It can take years and thousands of dollars to correct an identity
theft, credit fraud or a simple key entry error by a clerk at a Credit
Bureau. It takes minutes for you to do these simple tips:
Destroy all pre-approved credit offers you get in the mail before
you discard them. Otherwise, someone can fill out a new address
and get credit in your name. Use a paper-shredder for all
documents with your financial or legal information included. Sign
all your credit cards with 'Please ask for photo ID' instead of your
signature.
Never give out your SSN or credit card information on the phone
unless you initiate the call and you know to whom you are talking.
Never carry your social security number in your wallet.
4. You don't have to give your SSN to businesses that request it,
although they do have the right to refuse service. Only
government agency, and employment or tax related inquiries
must be answered.
Reduce the number of pre-approved offers you get by requesting
these credit bureaus remove your name from their lists: TRW
(800) 353-0809, Equifax (800) 219-1251 and TransUnion (800)
241-2858.
Once a year carefully check out your free credit report from
Experian (800) 682-7654 and free Social Security file (800) 772-
1213. If you are denied credit based on your report, the issuing
credit bureau must provide you with a free copy upon request -
even if they usually charge for it.
5. Do not give out confidential information on e-mail or do financial
transactions on the Internet unless it's secure and encoded.
(Look for the SSL reference)
Check guarantee and check verification agencies must provide
the same protection as credit bureaus, such as access to your
report and correction of errors. If your check is refused, get the
agency name.
For assistance in re-establishing good credit and correcting
errors, the non-profit Consumer Credit Counseling Service may
be able to help you. To find the office nearest you call
(800) 388-2227.
by: Eve Abbott
