Identity Theft: What Can The Average American Do?

Millions of Americans have been affected by identity theft.  Identity theft happens when someone else uses YOUR personal information to commit a fraud in your name.   Your personal information can be your name, your social security number, or anything that identifies you as YOU.    Identity thieves can do an incredible amount of damage before they are caught or before they have moved on to another victim.

The Federal Trade Commission is concerned about identity theft and has developed a program called “Deter, Detect, and Defend”.   Today, let’s talk about detering a thief.   

1.   Personal information should stay confidential and should never ever be given out over the phone, the mail, or over the Internet, unless you are positive that you are dealing with the correct person.

2.  Keep your personal information confidential and safe at home or at work.   Your personal information should not be in your purse/wallet, being carried about town with you.

3.  All financial documents should be shredded once they are no longer useful to you, and you are ready to throw them out.

4.  Don’t put your social security card in your wallet, don’t write it on a check, don’t provide it over the phone, don’t put it in an email.

5.  Read every bill that comes to your house, especially credit card statements, and look for those suspicious charges.

6.  Go to www.annualcreditreport.com and get a copy of your free annual credit report.   Look for strange creditors whose names you don’t recognize.

Part Two of this series will deal with Defending Yourself Against An Identity Thief.