Cactus Village Community

Safeguards to Ward Off Theft of I.D.

Jul 19, 2003

With identity theft on the rise nationally, here are some ways to guard against someone stealing your credit card data:

?• Before revealing personal information, find out how it will be used and if it will be shared with others. Ask if the information can be kept confidential.

?• Pay attention to credit card billing cycles. Follow up with creditors if bills do not arrive on time. A missing bill could mean an identity thief has taken over your account and changed your billing address.

?• Order a copy of your credit report every year. Make sure it?’s accurate.

?• Keep items with personal information in a safe, secure place. Tear or shred unneeded documents, such as charge receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance forms, bank checks and statements, expired charge cards and mailed credit offers.

?• If a wallet or purse is stolen, immediately cancel each credit or bank card and get new cards with different account numbers. . . ☻