Identity Theft Prevention Information

Information provided by the Federal Trade Commission

In the course of a busy day, you may write a check at the grocery store, charge tickets to a ball game, rent a car, mail your tax returns, change service providers for your cell phone, or apply for a credit card.  Chances are you don’t give these transactions a second thought.  But an identity thief does.

Identity theft is a serious crime.  People whose identities have been stolen can spend months or years-and thousands of dollars-cleaning up the mess the thieves have made of a good name and credit record.  In the meantime, victims of identity theft may lose job opportunities, be refused loans for education, housing or cars, and even get arrested for crimes they didn’t commit.  Humiliation, anger, and frustration are among the feelings victims experience as they navigate the process of rescuing their identity.

The following are some tips on how to protect your information:

·         Read your credit reports—you have the right to a free credit report every 12 months from each of the three nationwide credit reporting companies, or you can try www.creditkarma.com

·         Read your bank, credit card, and account statements and the explanation of medical benefits from your health plan.  If a statement has mistakes or doesn’t come on time, contact the business.

·         Shred all documents that show personal, financial, and medical information before you throw them away.

·         Don’t respond to email, text, and phone messages that ask for personal information.  Legitimate companies don’t ask for information this way.  Delete the messages.

·         Create passwords that mix letters, numbers, and special characters.  Don’t use the same password for more than one account.

·         If you shop online, use websites that protect your financial information with encryption.  An encrypted site has “https” at the beginning of the web address; “s” is for secure.

Red Flags of Identity Theft

·         Mistakes on bank, credit card or other account statements

·         Medical Benefits mistakes from your health plan

·         Your regular bills and account statements don’t arrive on time

·         Bill collection or notices for products or services you did not receive

·         Calls from debt collectors for debts that don’t belong to you.

·         A notice from the IRS that someone used your social security number

·         Mail, email or calls about accounts or jobs in your minor child’s name

·         Businesses turn down your checks

·         You are turned down unexpectedly for a job.

Protect yourself and your identity.  For more information, please visit www.ftc.gov/idtheft