How can I protect myself from identity theft?
• Keep a close eye on all your account statements and notify your bank or credit card company immediately if you notice any discrepancies. • Shred all financial documents that are no longer needed, and store documents you would like to keep in a secure location. • Order a free credit report each year and check for any fraudulent charges or inaccuracies on the report. If you have trouble reading or interpreting your credit report, contact the HERC @ 581-7786.
Besides getting a credit report at least once a year to monitor your credit, you should carefully examine your monthly financial statements. Read over your bank statements and other creditor statements to make sure you recognize all the items listed. Use a shredder to destroy bank statements, credit card offers, or any other document that carries your financial information. And keep track of your credit card receiptssome still list your full account numbers and expiration dates.
• Shred or burn all documents not needed, that contain personal financial information, such as credit card solicitations and receipts • Monitor bank and credit card statements on a regular basis to ensure all charges and/or account activites are legitimate • Mail documents wisely by using USPS collection boxes or the post office instead of unsecured mailboxes • Never give personal information over the telephone, mail, or internet unless you are sure who is requesting the information • Do not use obvious passwords, such as birthdates, nick names, or part of your Social Security Number • Passwords should be at least 6 characters if possible and contain a combination of letters, numbers and a symbol • Never open links sent in unsolicited emails; use firewalls, anti-spyware, and anti-virus software on your computer • Review personal credit reports at least once a year from each of the three credit bureaus, using the annual credit report website
If you check your credit report regularly, you’ll soon notice if something looks unusual. This could be a sign your identity has been stolen and is being used to apply for credit. You can add a Notice of Correction containing a password for your credit file and instructions to lenders to decline any application not quoting this password. (See section titled ‘Leaving a note on your credit report’). For an administration fee of £14.10, CIFAS – the UK’s fraud prevention service – can place a ‘Protective Registration’ warning on your credit file. This will tell lenders that you think your personal information is at risk of being used fraudulently. When they receive an application with your details, they’ll make more checks to make sure the person applying is you and not a fraudster. It may mean that any applications you make are delayed while there’s further verification of your I.D. But it’s better to be safe than sorry!
If you check your credit report regularly, you’ll soon notice if something looks unusual. This could be a sign your identity has been stolen and is being used to apply for credit. You can add a Notice of Correction containing a password for your credit file and instructions to lenders to decline any application not quoting this password. (See section titled ‘Leaving a note on your credit report’). For an administration fee of 14.10, CIFAS – the UK’s fraud prevention service – can place a ‘Protective Registration’ warning on your credit file. This will tell lenders that you think your personal information is at risk of being used fraudulently. When they receive an application with your details, they’ll make more checks to make sure the person applying is you and not a fraudster. It may mean that any applications you make are delayed while there’s further verification of your I.D. But it’s better to be safe than sorry!
