We provide this free financial resource to visitors of the Community Room of SeniorSSuperStoreS in an effort to keep baby boomers, seniors and the elderly informed of matters that can affect their lifestyle.

Identity theft crimes are on the rise causing nationwide concern. Your personal identifying information can be accessed in a variety of ways. An imposter can misuse your information to open fraudulent credit card accounts, secure deposits on cars and housing, obtain employment opportunities, create insurance benefits, and rob retirement earnings. This form of financial sabotage can devastate your credit and require endless hours of telephone and written communication to resolve. In the meantime, you may experience difficulty writing checks, obtaining loans, renting apartments, and even getting hired. This article describes some steps you can employ to thwart an identity thief. While following these precautionary steps is not a guarantee, it will greatly reduce your chances of becoming the next identity theft victim.

This article includes information that has been taken, in part, from material provided by the Federal Trade Commission and is intended to help educate consumers concerning the dangers of identity theft.

Despite your best efforts to manage the flow of your personal information or keep it to yourself, skilled identity thieves may use a variety of techniques to get your personal information and steal your identity. They steal wallets and purses, steal mail, complete a change of address form to re-direct your mail to a different address, rummage through your trash, fraudulently obtain your credit report by posing as someone who has legitimate need for the information; they get your records at work, find personal information in your home, get your personal information on the Internet, or they buy your information from "inside" sources like store employees.

Reducing access to your personal identifying information:

To minimize the amount of information a thief can steal, do not carry extra credit cards, your Social Security card, birth certificate, or passport in your wallet or purse, except when needed.

To reduce the amount of personal information that is "out there", consider the following:

Order your credit report once a year from each of the three credit bureaus to check for inaccuracies and fraudulent use of your accounts. Monitoring your credit card statements and your credit report are the most important steps you can take to safeguard your credit identity.

Equifax - www.equifax.com
To order your report, call: 800-685-1111 or write
P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
To report fraud, call: 800-525-6285 and write:
P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241

Experian - www.experian.com
To order your report, call: 888-EXPERIAN (397-3742) or
Write: P.O. Box 949, Allen, TX 75013-0949
To report fraud, call: 888-EXPERIAN (397-3742) and write:
P.O. Box 949, Allen, TX 75013-0949

Trans Union - www.transunion.com
To order your report, call: 800-916-8800 or write:
760 Sproul Road, P.O. Box 390, Springfield, PA 19064-0390
To report fraud, call: 800-680-7289 and write:
Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92634

Remove your name, home address and home telephone number from many mailing and telephone lists through the Direct Marketing Association's Mail Preference Service and Telephone Preference Service. This free service is only available for individuals and "home" addresses (not businesses). You will be removed from the Direct Marketing Association member lists for five years.

To remove your name and home address from national mailing lists, write:
Direct Marketing Association
Mailing Preference Service
P.O. Box 9008
Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008

To remove your name from telephone solicitation lists, write:
Direct Marketing Association
Telephone Preference Service
P.O. Box 9014
Farmingdale, NY 11735-9014

Removing your name and address from the telephone book, reverse directories, and city directories may also protect you. By eliminating your name from these sources, you can reduce access to your personal information from places like the Internet (which mainly use public information resources as a database), telemarketers, and identity thieves. Contact your local telephone company for the procedures and costs involved.

The Social Security number is the most frequently used record keeping number in the United States. The widespread use of Social Security numbers makes invasion of privacy and fraud easier to commit. In some states, Social Security numbers are used as the assigned driver's license number. However, in North Carolina and South Carolina, assigned numbers are used instead.

A provision of the Federal Privacy Protection Act allows for personal information contained in the records of the Division of Motor Vehicles to be released for surveys, marketing or solicitations unless the customer prohibits such disclosure.

In the State of North Carolina, customers may complete a form MVR-605B requesting that the information contained in their records not be released for surveys, marketing or solicitations. Requests for the form can be obtained and returned to the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Registration Section, 1100 New Bern Avenue, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27697.

In the State of South Carolina, Code of Laws, Section 56-3-510-540, governs the release of motor vehicle information. Information such as names and addresses is not provided to the general public or companies who handle surveys, marketing or solicitations. No form is required.

Install a locked mailbox at your residence to reduce mail theft, or use a post office box.

When you order new checks, consider removing "extra" information such as your Social Security number, assigned driver's license number, middle name, and telephone number. The less personal identifying information you make available, the more likely an identity thief will choose an easier target. Do not have new checks sent to your home's mailbox. Pick them up at the bank instead.

When you pay bills, do not leave the envelopes containing your checks at your home's mailbox for the postal carrier to pick up. If stolen, your checks can be altered and then cashed. If stolen, credit card payments contain all the necessary information an identity thief needs. Never write your credit card account number or Social Security number on your checks when making a payment. Due to an increased risk of theft and vandalism, it is best to mail bills and other sensitive items at the post office, rather than from your residence or neighborhood drop boxes.

Credit Cards:

Reduce the number of credit cards you actively use to a bare minimum. Carry only one or two of them in your wallet. Cancel all unused accounts. Even though you do not use them, their account numbers are recorded in your credit report, which is full of data that can be used by identity thieves.

Keep a list or photocopy of all your credit cards, account numbers, expiration dates, and telephone numbers of the customer service and fraud departments in a secure place (not your wallet or purse) so you can quickly contact your creditors in case your cards have been lost or stolen. Do the same with your bank accounts.

Never give out your credit card number or other personal information over the telephone unless you have a trusted business relationship with the company AND YOU HAVE INITIATED THE CALL. Identity thieves have been known to call their victims with a fake story that goes something like this: "Today is your lucky day! You have been chosen by the Publishers Consolidated Sweepstakes to receive a free trip to the Bahamas. All we need is your credit card number and expiration date to verify you as the lucky winner".

Always take credit card and ATM receipts with you. Never toss them in a public trash container.

Request, in writing, that the issuer for each of your credit cards remove your name from their marketing and promotional lists which they may sell or share with other companies. In addition, if any of your credit card issuers send random issue convenience checks, request (in writing) to be removed from the mailing list. Credit card convenience checks are easy prey for identity thieves to steal and use while often times, the consumer is unaware that the checks were even issued. Your credit card billing statement should contain a different address for "correspondence" to the issuer. Do not send your requests to the same address where you send your credit card payments.

Watch the mail when you are expecting a new credit card that you have applied for or a reissued credit card that has expired. Immediately contact the issuer if the credit card does not arrive. Do not toss credit card convenience checks or pre-approved credit offers in your trash or recycling bin without first tearing them into small pieces or shredding them. They can be used by "dumpster divers" to cash the checks or order credit cards in your name and mail them to their address. Do the same with other sensitive information like credit card receipts, banking statements, phone bills, and so on. Home shredders can be purchased in most office supply stores.

One of the benefits for consumers using the Internet, a global network of interlinked computer networks, is the ability to purchase products and services around the clock electronically from the convenience of their home or office. One of the drawbacks is the potential for fraud and deception. Be very careful before you use a credit card on the Internet or provide personal information (such as your Social Security number or date of birth) on an electronic application.

Passwords and Personal Identification Numbers (PINs):

When creating passwords and PINs, do not use the last four digits of your Social Security number, your birth date, middle name, mother's maiden name, pet's name, address, consecutive numbers, or anything else that could be discovered easily by thieves.

Ask your financial institution to add extra security protection to your account. Most will allow you to use an additional code (a number or word) when accessing your account. Do not use the common passwords and PINs listed above.

Memorize all your passwords. Don't record them on anything in your wallet or purse.

Shield your hand when using your PIN at a bank ATM or when making long distance phone calls with your phone card. "Shoulder surfers" may be spying nearby with binoculars or a video camera.

Social Security Numbers:

Protect your Social Security number. Release it only when absolutely necessary or when required by law (such as tax forms, employment records, banking/ stock/ property transactions, driver's/ marriage/ professional license applications, etc.). If a government agency requests important personal information, including your Social Security number, a Privacy Act notice should accompany the request. (5 United States Code section 552a(e)(3)) This notice will explain whether disclosure of such information is required or requested, the use that will be made of the information, and what will happen if you refuse to provide all or any part of the information. Your Social Security number is the key to your banking and credit card accounts, insurance and health benefits, making it a prime target of identity thieves. You may wish to utilize an "assigned" driver's license number rather than your Social Security number whenever possible.

Do not have your Social Security number printed on your checks. Don't let merchants hand-write your Social Security number on your checks because of the risk of fraud. Currently, there is no law against a merchant requiring you to divulge your Social Security number before accepting a check, so you may need to be assertive. Offering an assigned driver's license number is usually an adequate substitute.

Do not respond to any solicitation that promises to obtain a refund or rebate on your Social Security and/or Medicare Tax. Con-artists attempt to make you believe that "for a small fee" they can complete the proper forms, and you will receive a government check. Wrong!!! They will also ask you for your Social Security number which they will more than likely use to steal your credit identity or sell it to someone else with those same intentions. Remember, your Social Security number is the key to your credit identity - guard it wisely!

Responsible Information Handling:

Carefully review your credit card statements and phone bills, including cellular phone bills, for unauthorized charges or fraudulent use. Be aware that under current laws, your local telephone company is obliged to let other carriers use their billing systems for a fee. More and more unscrupulous third parties are billing consumers for goods such as: special services, calling plans, or memberships that they did not order and do not want (commonly called "cramming"). Scrutinize your local, long distance and cellular telephone bills each month for fraudulent or unauthorized charges.

Be aware that some long distance telephone companies resort to deceptive tactics to switch your service without authorization (commonly called "slamming"). You may contact your local telephone company to verify your long distance carrier and request a "freeze" on your account so it cannot be changed without your specific authorization using a password. If you want the name of your current long distance carrier, call 1-(700) 555-4141 and a recorded message will indicate the name of your long distance carrier. If you want to know the name of the local telephone company, you are currently using call 1-(your area code) 700-4141 and a recorded message will indicate the name of your local company.

Prevent your name and number from appearing on Caller ID and Call Name Delivery boxes. Although non-published telephone numbers are not printed in directories or listed with Directory Assistance, these numbers are not protected from Caller ID services. With the increased use of these services precautions must be taken in order to protect the identity of your non-published name and number.

Demand that your financial institution adequately safeguard your personal identifying information. Discourage your bank from using the last four digits of your Social Security number as your assigned personal identification number (PIN). Request that your bank remove account numbers from ATM receipts (many have already done so). Inquire whether they shred all paper records before discarding them. Always take your receipts from ATMs with you and shred or store them in a safe place. By adopting responsible information handling practices, you and your financial institution can reduce the risk of fraud.

When you fill out credit or loan applications, find out how the company disposes of them. If you are not convinced that they store them in locked files and/or shred them, take your business elsewhere. Some auto dealerships, department stores, car rental agencies, and video stores have been known to be careless with customer applications or an employee at the business with "insider access" may retrieve your personal information to sell or use fraudulently. When you pay by credit card, ask the business how it stores and disposes of the transaction slip. Avoid paying by credit card if you think the business does not use adequate safeguards.

Store your canceled checks in a safe place. In the wrong hands, they could reveal a lot of information about you, including your account number, telephone number and driver's license number. Never permit your credit card number to be written onto your checks. However, a merchant may request to view your credit card.

When in public places, always be aware of your surroundings. Thieves commonly use a distraction in cramped public places, such as elevators, escalators and revolving doors to "bump and lift" your money, identification, and credit cards. Be especially cautious with bags and purses that can be an easy target for a thief to "grab and run".

Magazines, credit card companies, clubs and organizations, charities, manufacturers and retailers make lists of their subscribers, customers, members and donors available to other businesses for a fee. Your information is reproduced and sold in countless ways. You should always exercise caution when you are making personal identifying information available by utilizing the Internet, sending a mail-in rebate/survey/warranty card, entering a drawing or sweepstakes, donating money, and even subscribing to magazine services.

Provide personal information only if you know who is collecting it, why and how it is going to be used.