How to Minimize Your ID Theft Risk

How to Minimize Your ID Theft Risk

When it comes to identity theft, you can't entirely control whether you will become a victim. But here are certain steps you can take to minimize your risk.

• Order a copy of your credit report.
• Place passwords on your credit card, bank, and phone accounts. Avoid using easily available information like your mother's maiden name, your birth date, or a series of consecutive numbers. 
• Secure personal information in your home, especially if you have  roommates, employ outside help or are having work done in your home. 
• Ask about information security procedures in your workplace or at businesses, doctor's offices or other institutions that collect your personal information. 
• Don't give out personal information on the phone, through the mail or on the Internet unless you've initiated the contact or are sure you know who you're dealing with. 
• Confirm that you are dealing with a legitimate organization before you share any personal information. Check an organization's website by typing its URL in the address line, rather than cutting and pasting it. 
• Treat your mail and trash carefully.
• Promptly remove mail from your mailbox. If you're planning to be away from home and can't pick up your mail, call your post office to request a vacation hold. 
• Always shred your charge receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance forms, physician statements, checks and bank statements, expired charge cards, and credit offers you get in the mail. 
• Don't carry your Social Security number card; leave it in a secure place. Only give your Social Security number when absolutely necessary. 
• Carry only the credit, debit and identification cards that you'll actually need when you go out. 
• Be cautious when responding to promotions. Identity thieves may create phony promotional offers to get you to give them your personal information.
• Keep your purse or wallet in a safe place at work; do the
• same with copies of administrative forms that have your sensitive personal information. 
• When ordering new checks, pick them up from the bank instead of having them mailed to your home mailbox. 

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