Identity Theft Info

Follow these tips to minimize the chance of identity theft:

• Each year, request a free credit report from the three credit reporting companies at www.annualcreditreport.com or by calling (877) 322-8228. Reviewing these reports can help detect fraud. Remember to request credit reports for underage members of your household. Fraudsters often focus on young people because their credit is not established yet.
• Cancel cards you no longer use.
• A best practice is to visit your financial institution's and other creditors‘ Web sites at least weekly to monitor account activity or at a minimum carefully review each monthly statement.
• Use a crosscut shredder to destroy private documents you no longer need.
• Do not respond to unsolicited e-mails, telephone calls, or text messages that ask for personal information.
• Keep your Social Security card and checks at home in a secure place.
• Do not order checks with your Social Security number or driver's license number printed on them.
• When creating passwords or passcodes, avoid using obvious numerical sequences (for example: 1234), your birth date, your Social Security number, or your mother's maiden name.
• Do not store confidential information on computers, memory sticks, cell phones, or other electronic devices.
• Store for safe keeping in your home a list of all cards carried along with contact numbers in the event of a lost or stolen purse or wallet.
• Be alert to bills, account statements, or other information that does not arrive as expected.
• Never click on unsolicited emails; instead always type in a web address you know. Use firewalls, anti'spyware, and anti-virus software to protect your home computer. Install updates to the software as needed.
• Store personal information in a secure place in the home, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help, or are having work done in your house.
• Trust your instinct. If something doesn’t appear right, do not provide information and report the event to local police, bank or other potentially impacted party.

Do you suspect your identity may have been stolen?