|
How
Can You Decrease Your Risk of Becoming a Victim of Identity Theft?
from: http://www.idtheftcenter.com/html/prevention_tips.htm
Identity theft is a crime in which the imposter obtains key pieces of information such as Social Security and
driver's license numbers to obtain credit, merchandise and services in the name of the victim. The victim is left with a ruined
credit history and the time-consuming and complicated task of regaining financial health. The imposter may even use the victim's
good name for criminal activities. It is a dual crime - committed against an individual whose name and good credit history
was ruined and against businesses who lost cash and merchandise.
ITRC strongly believes that while it is important for consumers to take steps to decrease their risk factors,
the business community must do their part as well. This crime truly begins in the acquiring, use, storage and access of information
we have given to businesses and governmental agencies. Until these groups do their part, this crime will not be stopped.
How do thieves get my information?
- They go through your trashcan, looking for straight cut or unshredded papers.
- They steal your mail or your wallet.
- They listen in on conversations you have in public.
- They trick you into giving them the information over the telephone or by email.
- They buy the information either on the Internet or from someone who might have stolen it.
- They steal it from a loan or credit application form you filled out or from files at a hospital, bank, school or business
that you deal with. They may have obtained it from dumpsters outside of such companies.
- They get it from your computer, especially those without firewalls.
- They may be a friend or relative or someone who works for you who has access to your information.
Tips to Businesses:
It is vital that the business community acts now to implement and follow better information handling processes.
ITRC does provide in-depth consulting for those companies who wish to use our services. The following areas need to be considered
when measuring your information handling security. More information can be found at our section called "In the Workplace."
- Information acquisition- Do you need the information? Are you acquiring it in a safe manner?
- Storage- What computer security measures have you placed around the systems storing personal data? It should considered
highly classified and not common access.
- Access- Who has access? Is it on a need to know basis and access audited? Is there password control over systems? Is there
a cafeteria worker asking your child for his/her SSN prior to receiving lunch? Did you do a background check on those who
have access to personal information of employees and customers? Do temps have access to secure info?
- Disposal- Are electronic and paper documents containing personal information rendered unreadable prior to disposal? What
is in your dumpter? Is it a treasure chest for thieves and for consumer action attorneys ready to sue you for placing their
clients in jeopardy?
- Distribution- How do your handle information? Is your employee requiring a member of the public to repeat a SSN out loud
where it can be overheard? The public display, use and exchange of SSN (including on membership cards carried in wallets)
needs to be reconsidered. You place people at much higher risk when you do so.
Other tips:
- Fraud and security alerts placed on credit reports must be honored. If a consumer requests that they be called prior to
opening a credit card, do so.
- Businesses that print out cash register receipts need to make sure that credit card numbers are partially truncated to
help consumers avoid credit card takeover.
- Mail sent to the public either should not include account information or SSN. At the least, truncating part of the number
should be considered.
Tips to Consumers:
How can I prevent becoming an identity theft victim? While no one can totally prevent this crime from
occurring, here are some positive steps to take which will decrease your risk.
- Check your credit reports once a year from all three of the credit reporting agencies listed below.
- Guard your Social Security number. When possible, dont carry your Social Security card with you.
- Dont put your SSN or drivers license number on your checks.
- Guard your personal information. You should never give your Social Security number to anyone unless they have a good reason
for needing it.
- Watch for people who may try to eavesdrop and overhear the information you give out orally.
- Carefully destroy papers you throw out, especially those with sensitive or identifying information. A crosscut
paper shredder works best.
- Be suspicious of telephone solicitors. Never provide information unless you have initiated the call.
- Delete without replying to any suspicious email requests. Check our Scam Alert page for recent problem areas.
- Use a locked mailbox to send and receive all mail.
- Reduce the number of preapproved credit card offers you receive -888-5OPT OUT (they will ask for your SSN)
What should I do if I become an identity theft victim?
Please go to our Self Help guide section. It has many informational sheets dealing with different aspects of
this crime. We also ask that you contact the Federal Trade Commission. www.consumer.gov/idtheft or 877-IDTHEFT and let them know about the crime. They are putting together a comprehensive study and your information will
help others. You may also contact our offices via email or phone.
To Contact the Credit Reporting Agencies:
TransUnion: 800-888-4213, www.tuc.com, (fraud division- 800-680-7289) TDD 800-553-7803
Experian: 888-EXPERIAN, www.experian.com, (fraud div.- 888-397-3742), TDD 800-972-0322
Equifax: 800- 685-1111, www.equifax.com, (fraud division- 800-525-6285), Hearing impaired- use AT&T line. Have operator call the Auto Disclosure Line at 1-800-685-1111
ŠJanuary 2003, Identity Theft Resource Center
Womens Safety Tips
Please take the time to read this. I know you are smart enough to know these pointers
but there will be some, where you will go "Hmm I must remember that". After reading this, forward it to someone
you care about. It never hurts to be careful in this crazy world we live in.
1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do: The elbow
is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do!
2. Learned this from a tourist guide
to New Orleans. If a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM. Toss it away from
you....chances are that he is more interested in your wallet and/or purse than you and he will go for the wallet/purse.
RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!
3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car: Kick out the
back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy. The driver won't see you but everybody
else will. This has saved lives.
4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc.,
and just sit (doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc. DON'T DO THIS! The predator will be watching you, and this
is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go.
A S SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR, LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE.
5. A few notes about getting into your car in a
parking lot, or parking garage: A.) Be aware: look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side
floor, and in the back seat.
B.) If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door.
Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get
into their cars.
C.) Look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle, and the passenger side. If
a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work,
and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out. IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than
dead.)
6. ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs.(Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and
the perfect crime spot).
7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN! The
predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times; And even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital
organ. RUN!
8. As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP IT! It may get you raped,
or killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting
women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked "for help" into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when
he abducted his next victim.
9. Another Safety Point: Someone just told me that her friend heard a crying baby on her
porch the night before last, and she called the police because it was late and she thought it was weird. The police
told her "Whatever you do, DO NOT open the door." The lady then said that it sounded like the baby had crawled near a window,
and she was worried that it would crawl to the street and get run over. The policeman said, "We already have a unit
on the way, whatever you do, DO NOT open the door." He told her that they think a serial killer has a baby's cry
recorded and uses it to coax women out of their homes thinking that someone dropped off a baby. He said they have
not verified it, but have had several calls by women saying that they hear baby's cries outside their doors when
they're home alone at night. Please pass this on! and DO NOT open the door for a crying baby.
This e-mail should probably be taken seriously because the Crying Baby theory was mentioned
on America's Most Wanted this past Saturday when they profiled the serial killer in Louisiana.
I'd like you to forward
this to all the women you know. It may save a life. A candle is not dimmed by lighting another candle. I was going to
send this to the ladies only, but guys, if you love your mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, etc., you may want to pass it
onto them, as well. Send this to any woman you know that may need to be reminded that the world we live in has a lot of crazies
in it and it's better to be safe than sorry.
|
