Protecting your Identity
Identity Theft
Identity theft is when someone uses your personal information, like your name, Social Security number, or your credit card number, to commit fraud. It can start with a lost or stolen wallet, stolen mail, a data breach, computer virus, "phishing" scams, or paper documents thrown out by you or a business. Identity thieves may use your information to open a new credit card account in your name and then, when they don't pay the bills, the delinquent account is reported on your credit report. Inaccurate information like this could affect your ability to get credit, insurance or even a job. Source: Federal Trade Commission, http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0155-free-credit-reports
In Texas, the highest percentage of identity theft complaints come from victims between the ages of 18 and 20 at 34%. Source: Identity Theft Counseling http://www.identitytheftcounseling.org/Statistics.htm#Age
Common forms of identity theft are: financial, child identity theft, governmental, medical and even social network identity theft. Source: Identity Theft Resource Center http://www.idtheftcenter.org/?source=googleSS&gclid=CI-b6eOBjrYCFW2nPAodcG0AWw
Tips to keep your personal information secure
- Check your credit report regularly for suspicious or fraudulent activity
- Do not give anyone personal information over the phone or email unless you initiated the transaction
- Make sure financial documents are locked in a secure place at both work and home
- Do not carry your Social Security card in your wallet or purse
- Limit what you carry with you
- For example, bring copies of medical insurance cards unless the original is required
- Do not leave personal belongings unattended in a vehicle or public area
- Shred documents that have personal information
- Credit card/bank statements
- Medical bills
- Insurance forms
- Checks
- Do not throw away sensitive information in the trash: use a shredder
- Keep information secure online
- Be cautious of emails from senders you are unfamiliar with
- Do not respond to phishing emails requesting personal information
- If you are disposing of a computer, make sure to wipe out the entire hard drive
- Have strong passwords that would not be obvious for someone to figure out
- Never share passwords
- If you must write down passwords, keep them in a secure location
- Use anti-virus software, encrypt your data and lock your laptop
If you think you're a victim of identity theft
The following are some clues that someone may have stolen your information:
- Withdrawals from your bank account that you can't explain
- You haven't received your bills in the mail
- Call from debt collectors about debts that aren't yours (checking credit reports can help you discover suspicious activity quicker)
- Unfamiliar accounts
Source: Federal Trade Commission: http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0271-signs-identity-theft