A Mountain Community

Identity Theft Rampant Across Nation

Jul 01, 2005

All too often you hear of folks having their identity stolen. Mastercard recently had information on
40 million people stolen from a processing company here in Tucson. Most folks don?’t know their
identity has been stolen until they apply for a loan for a home, a car, or a credit card and the credit
search comes back that you have a bad credit rating. It is VERY time consuming and costly to regain
your identity after it has been stolen. Folks must do everything possible to guard their personal
information. Personal information includes name, address, phone number, social security number,
bank account numbers, credit card numbers, computer passwords. Criminals can obtain your personal
information in a number of ways. Here are 15 ways to help guard your personal information:

1. Shred all mail and documents that contain personal information. This includes credit receipts and
pre-approved credit applications you receive in the mail. Never put un-shredded mail or documents in
the trash can. Thieves go through your trash looking for information.

2. Guard your mail from theft. Put outgoing mail in a drop box, retrieve your mail from the mail box or
community mailbox promptly.

3. Never give your personal information to people over the phone, internet, or through the mail. Some
ID thieves claim to be from the government, your bank, charities, or law enforcement.

4. Note when your bills usually arrive each month and track them. Stolen credit card statements give
thieves valuable information.

5. Never let your credit card or debit card out of your sight.

6. Study your credit card and bank statements carefully. Verify each purchase, and amount, with your
purchase records. Verify all bank withdrawals.

7. Don?’t use common numbers like your birth date or last 4 digits of your social number for your ATM
pin number.

8. Don?’t leave your valuables or personal information in your vehicle

9. Never give out your social security number unless it is absolutely necessary. Your employer, doctor,
bank and insurance company are exceptions.

10 Review your credit report annually. Dispute claims you don?’t recognize.

11. Protect yourself from email ?“phishing?” scams. Never send personal information over the internet
unless you initiate the communication.

12. Never click on a link that was provided in an email. Type in the web address yourself in your web
browser.

13. Never provide your password over the phone or in response to an unsolicited internet or email
request

14. Always check for the padlock icon that denotes a secure website. Although in some instances these
can be fake.

15. Buy and/or download Internet Security Software onto your computer and update it at least once a
week.

You can request a free annual credit report from credit reporting agencies, Experian, Equifax, and
Transunion by calling 1-877-322-8228 for an automated process.