Identity Theft: Protect Yourself

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Protecting Your IdentityProtecting Your Identity

If you take some simple steps to protect If you take some simple steps to protect your identity, you can save yourself your identity, you can save yourself

many headaches in the futuremany headaches in the future


25 Ways to Protect Your 25 Ways to Protect Your IdentityIdentity


Tip #1: Shred Your Junk MailTip #1: Shred Your Junk Mail

• When you get personal mail you don’t want, When you get personal mail you don’t want, it’s easy to toss it aside or throw it out as-is. it’s easy to toss it aside or throw it out as-is.

• Always shred these documentsAlways shred these documents so they don’t so they don’t get into the wrong hands.get into the wrong hands.


Tip #2: Remember to Take Your Tip #2: Remember to Take Your ReceiptReceipt

• Certain receipts may contain personal Certain receipts may contain personal information, especially at places like the information, especially at places like the bank. Even some restaurants leave full bank. Even some restaurants leave full credit card numbers on receipts, so never credit card numbers on receipts, so never leave a receipt behind.leave a receipt behind.


Tip #3: Keep Your Social Tip #3: Keep Your Social Security Number SafeSecurity Number Safe

• Keep your social security card in a safe place Keep your social security card in a safe place other than your wallet. Also, other than your wallet. Also, keep documents keep documents private that use your social security number.private that use your social security number.


Tip #4: Avoid Giving Personal Tip #4: Avoid Giving Personal Information Over the PhoneInformation Over the Phone

• Be wary of anyone who wants to have your Be wary of anyone who wants to have your personal information over the phone, personal information over the phone, especially if they’re calling especially if they’re calling you you and you’re not and you’re not the one placing the call.the one placing the call.


Tip #5: Use Only Reputable Tip #5: Use Only Reputable WebsitesWebsites

• When online, do your research to ensure that When online, do your research to ensure that you’re on the official website of the company you’re on the official website of the company with which you wish to do business.with which you wish to do business.


Tip #6: Keep Track of Your Tip #6: Keep Track of Your Credit CardsCredit Cards

• Always know the location of your credit and Always know the location of your credit and debit cards. Never leave them easily debit cards. Never leave them easily accessible in your car or desk.accessible in your car or desk.


Tip #7:Tip #7: Report Lost or Stolen Report Lost or Stolen Cards ImmediatelyCards Immediately

• Alert the creditor of each card so they can Alert the creditor of each card so they can cancel the lost or stolen card and issue you a cancel the lost or stolen card and issue you a new one.new one.


Tip #8: Ensure You’re Dealing Tip #8: Ensure You’re Dealing With Legitimate CompaniesWith Legitimate Companies

• Sometimes scammers try to make you believe Sometimes scammers try to make you believe that they’re employees of a certain company that they’re employees of a certain company when, in fact, they have no connection to that when, in fact, they have no connection to that company. company. Do your research and check up on Do your research and check up on these people before conducting business.these people before conducting business.


Tip #9: Ask About Privacy PoliciesTip #9: Ask About Privacy Policies

• Almost every business has a privacy policy. Almost every business has a privacy policy. See what information they need from you and See what information they need from you and why, so you don't disclose more than they why, so you don't disclose more than they need.need.


Tip #10: Keep Track of Your Credit Tip #10: Keep Track of Your Credit ReportReport

• Keep a current copy of your credit report and Keep a current copy of your credit report and learn what it all means.learn what it all means.


Tip #11: Go Over Your Statements Tip #11: Go Over Your Statements Each MonthEach Month

• Check your statements with a fine tooth comb Check your statements with a fine tooth comb to make sure that there’s nothing out of the to make sure that there’s nothing out of the ordinary.ordinary.


Tip #12: Keep Strict RecordsTip #12: Keep Strict Records

• Stay organized and keep strict records of your Stay organized and keep strict records of your more sensitive business.more sensitive business.


Tip #13: Join the Do-Not-Call ListTip #13: Join the Do-Not-Call List

• Do what you can to keep solicitations to a Do what you can to keep solicitations to a minimum and keep your phone numbers minimum and keep your phone numbers private and away from scammers.private and away from scammers.


Tip #14: Beware of Email ScamsTip #14: Beware of Email Scams

• Never give your personal information in an Never give your personal information in an email and be aware of the latest scams email and be aware of the latest scams circulating throughout the ‘net.circulating throughout the ‘net.


Tip #15: Always Think Twice Tip #15: Always Think Twice Before Handing Out Personal Before Handing Out Personal InformationInformation

• Whenever you’re asked for information on the Whenever you’re asked for information on the internet, on the phone, or in person, think twice internet, on the phone, or in person, think twice and make sure that you’re giving it to a and make sure that you’re giving it to a legitimate entity. legitimate entity.


Tip #16: Keep Statements in a Tip #16: Keep Statements in a Safe PlaceSafe Place

• Ensure you have a safe place for any Ensure you have a safe place for any documents you must hold onto for safe documents you must hold onto for safe keeping.keeping.


Tip #17: Visit Personal Websites Tip #17: Visit Personal Websites Only From Your Home ComputerOnly From Your Home Computer

• You can conduct personal business online You can conduct personal business online through reputable websites, but do it on secure through reputable websites, but do it on secure computers and not from public or work computers and not from public or work computers. computers.


Tip #18: Never Reply to Email Tip #18: Never Reply to Email SpammersSpammers

• Never send messages to email spammers Never send messages to email spammers even if you already know it’s a scam. It’s best even if you already know it’s a scam. It’s best to report and delete these emails immediately.to report and delete these emails immediately.


Tip #19: Check Your Computer for Tip #19: Check Your Computer for SpywareSpyware

• Do a periodic check for spyware to make sure Do a periodic check for spyware to make sure that no one has infected your computer. that no one has infected your computer.


Tip #20: Keep Up with the Latest Tip #20: Keep Up with the Latest InformationInformation

• It seems that new ways to obtain your identity It seems that new ways to obtain your identity surface regularly, so stay tuned to the latest surface regularly, so stay tuned to the latest information on scammer’s techniques.information on scammer’s techniques.


Tip #21: Be Wary of New Friends, Tip #21: Be Wary of New Friends, Especially on the InternetEspecially on the Internet

• Avoid passing along any personal information Avoid passing along any personal information for obvious reasons!for obvious reasons!


Tip #22: Check Your Purse OftenTip #22: Check Your Purse Often

• Whenever you leave your purse out of sight in Whenever you leave your purse out of sight in any place other than your own home, check its any place other than your own home, check its contents to make sure nothing has been contents to make sure nothing has been disturbed.disturbed.


Tip #23: Purge All Personal Tip #23: Purge All Personal Documents You No Longer NeedDocuments You No Longer Need

• If you don’t need documents anymore, If you don’t need documents anymore, shredding them will ensure that no one shredding them will ensure that no one else will ever see them.else will ever see them.


Tip #24: Keep Your Passwords Tip #24: Keep Your Passwords HiddenHidden

• Keep your passwords in a safe place so no Keep your passwords in a safe place so no one else can conduct business under your one else can conduct business under your name. name.


Tip #25: Use Online StatementsTip #25: Use Online Statements

• Using online statements in a secure Using online statements in a secure environment prevents having them go through environment prevents having them go through the mail where they can be stolen.the mail where they can be stolen.


Always be aware of your personal Always be aware of your personal information and think twice before information and think twice before

giving it out to anyone!giving it out to anyone!


Self-Reflection Questions:Self-Reflection Questions:

• Am I leaving myself open to identity theft? Am I leaving myself open to identity theft? • Am I shredding documents enough so they Am I shredding documents enough so they

can’t be pieced together?can’t be pieced together?• How do I protect my online identity and keep How do I protect my online identity and keep

it secure?it secure?


Action Tips:Action Tips:• Ensure that your anti-virus software is updated Ensure that your anti-virus software is updated

to the latest version.to the latest version.• Set your virus scanning software to run regular Set your virus scanning software to run regular

scans automatically.scans automatically.• Delete all spam emails.Delete all spam emails.• Shred all documents beyond recognition.Shred all documents beyond recognition.

Identity Theft: Protect Yourself

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