Protect Your Identity


How thieves steal identities

  • They rummage through trash looking for bills or other paper with your personal information on it
  • They pretend to be financial institutions or companies and send spam or pop-up messages to get you to reveal your personal information
  • They divert your billing statements to another location by completing a change of address form
  • They steal wallets and purses; mail, including bank and credit card statements; pre-approved credit offers; and new checks or tax information
  • They steal personnel records, or bribe employees who have access

How to protect yourself

  • Shred all documents containing personal information (especially those pre-approved credit card offers) before throwing them away
  • Don’t give sensitive information to unsolicited callers
  • If you aren’t interested in receiving convenience checks from your credit card companies, request to be removed from the mailing list
  • Minimize the amount of personal financial information you carry
  • Memorize passwords and PIN numbers; don’t carry them
  • Keep financial information in a secure place in your home or bank safe deposit box
  • Use strong passwords when you’re online and install an electronic firewall to keep Internet hackers from accessing your computer
  • Use anti-virus and anti-spyware software on your computer and be sure to keep it up to date

  • Use only secure connections when doing commerce online
  • Don’t use public computers (such as the ones at the library) or Wifi hot spots (like coffee shops) when sending private information such as email or online banking passwords
  • Shield your hand when entering your PIN at a bank ATM, store checkouts, or when making long distance calls with a calling card. This prevents security cameras, cell phone cameras or people near you from acquiring your pin. Shred ATM slips.
  • Pick up new checks or credit cards at your bank rather than having them delivered to your home. Don’t include your driver’s license or Social Security number on your checks.
  • If your bank or credit card statement doesn’t arrive on time, call to make sure it was sent to the proper address; contact the Post Office to see if a change of address has been filed in your name.
  • When traveling, you are even more vulnerable to ID thieves.  Keep all personal belongings locked in hotels safes/safe deposit boxes or with you. This includes prescription bottles that have personal information on them.
  • Consider placing a free security freeze on your credit to block others, including identity thieves, from opening a new account or obtaining credit in your name
  • Opt-out of pre-screened credit offers
  • If your state has one, sign up for their Do Not Call list because it also protects you from pre-screened credit offers and other types of telemarketing fraud
  • If your bank provides your account information to third parties, you may ask to opt-out of this practice or request they notify you in advance
NINJA TIP

Identity thieves can also use your personal information to get medical treatment and drugs and make your medical records incorrect; this can affect the accuracy of diagnoses and treatments you receive in the future and also use up dollar limits of some of your benefits.

Don’t give out medical information by mail or phone unless you’ve initiated the contact.

Read your Explanantion of Benefits (EOB) carefully to make sure it represents services you actually received. If you’re not able to do this by yourself, get help from a trusted friend, family member, or professional advisor.