Guarding Your Identity

Identity fraud is one of the fastest growing financial crimes in America, accounting for losses in the billions of dollars every year. Following are tips for protecting yourself and advice on what to do if it happens to you:

• Don't have your driver's license number or social security number printed on your checks.
• Don't carry your social security number or birth certificate in your wallet or purse.
• Try not to carry more than one credit card in your wallet.
• Don't carry credit card receipts. Keep them safe or destroy them.
• Don't carry account passwords with your cards or write them on the cards.
• Tear or shred all credit card offers mailed to you.
• Never give your credit card number or bank information to anyone calling you.
• Ask to have your check orders mailed to your bank, not to your home.
• Store new and cancelled checks in a safe place.
• Lock your mailbox. Don't leave outgoing mail in your mailbox; drop it off at the post office or a box instead.
• Review monthly bills carefully for unexplained charges.
• Shred all documents with account numbers before disposing of them.
• Order only from secure, reputable Internet sites.

If someone has stolen your identity:

• Call your local police department and file a report. Get a copy of the report in case the bank, credit card company or others need it later.
• Notify all three credit reporting bureaus. Tell them to put a fraud alert on your file and ask that no new credit be granted without your approval.
• Change your account numbers for banking, credit cards and utilities. Put passwords on all new accounts.

Credit Bureaus:

• Equifax: http://www.equifax.com or (800) 685-1111
• Experian: http://www.experian.com or (888) 397-3742
• TransUnion: http://www.tuc.com or (800) 916-8800

ID Theft Resource: www.consumer.gov/idtheft or (877) 438-4338