Cactus Village Community

Identity Theft . . . By CAO Terry Cooper

Jul 08, 2003

Identity theft involves acquiring key pieces of someone?’s identifying information such as name, address, date of birth, social security number, and mother?’s maiden name, in order to impersonate them. This information enables the identity thief to commit numerous forms of fraud which include, but are not limited to, taking over the victim?’s financial accounts, opening new bank accounts, purchasing automobiles, applying for loans, credit cards, and social security benefits, renting apartments, and establishing services with utility and phone companies.

PREVENTIVE ACTIONS

?• Promptly remove mail from your mailbox after delivery
?• Deposit outgoing mail in the post office collection boxes at your local post office. Do not leave outgoing mail in unsecured mail receptacles, remember your mailbox at home is no longer a safe place to leave your mail.
?• Never give personal information over the telephone, such as your social security number, date of birth, mother?’s maiden name, credit card number, or bank PIN code, unless you initiate the phone call. Protect this information and release it only when absolutely necessary.
?• Shred all pre-approved credit applications, credit card receipts, bills, and other financial information before discarding them in the trash.
Empty your wallet of extra credit cards and IDs, or better yet, cancel the ones you do not use and maintain a list of the ones you do.
?• Order your credit report from the three credit bureaus once a year to check for fraudulent activity or other discrepancies.
?• Never leave receipts at the bank machines, bank counters, trash bins, or unattended gasoline pumps. Keep track of all your paperwork. When you no longer need it, destroy it.
?• Memorize you social security number and all your passwords. Do not record them on any cards or on anything in your wallet or purse.
?• Sign all new credit cards on receipt or put ?“check ID?” on the back. so you will have to have ID when you present your card.
?• Match receipts to monthly statements.
?• Be aware of the time of month your bills normally arrive, if you don?’t receive them check with that business. (someone may have stolen your mail)
?• Keep your address and phone number up to date with banks, etc.
?• Never put account numbers on the outside of any envelope.
?• If you have applied for a credit card and it hasn?’t arrived in a timely manner contact the company involved.
?• Report all lost or stolen credit cards immediately.
?• Beware of mail or tele
phone solicitations disguised as promotions offering instant prizes or awards designed solely to obtain your personal information or credit card numbers.

CREDIT REPORTING
AGENCIES
?• Equifax P.O. Box 105873 Atlanta, GA 30348-5873 Phone:
1-800-997-2493
?• Experian (formerly TRW)
P.O.Box 949 Allen, TX 75013-
0949 Phone: 1-888-397-3742
?• TransUnion P.O.Box 390 Springfield, PA___19064-0390 Phone: 1-800-916-8800. . .☺