::Thursday, February 19, 2004::
IDENTITY THEFT: DON'T SAY YOU WERE NOT WARNED!
..Here's a reminder from PCMagazine:
"By now you're hopefully asking yourself what steps you can take to protect your identity. While you can never completely safeguard your identity, there are common ways to distance yourself from the crime. As they say on The X-Files, "Trust no one"—at least not when it comes to your personal information.
• Be suspicious of transactions you didn't initiate.
• Ask yourself if you really need to provide your Social Security number, and don't carry your Social Security card.
• Don't carry your credit cards and checkbook unless you plan to use them.
• Review your credit report, and close accounts you don't really need.
• Opt in for credit agencies' periodic credit watches. It's not free, but it might buy you some peace of mind.
• Take the contents of your wallet out and photocopy everything, front and back. Keep the copies in a secure place.
• When you get a new credit card, sign it immediately.
• Of course, your mailbox is an invitation to thieves. Get a locking mailbox, retrieve your mail immediately after delivery, or get a post office box. Never leave outgoing mail in your unprotected box for collection.
• When ordering checks, omit your driver's license number, Social Security number, and consider using only the initials of your first and middle name. And if possible, pick up your checks in-person instead of having them mailed.
• During all in-person transactions, watch the people you give your credit cards to carefully.
• If you use your credit cards online, be sure to navigate directly to the retailer's site. Avoid following links in e-mails, even to donate to your favorite cause.
• When buying or donating online, look for Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protection. A padlock in the bottom right-hand corner of your browser isn't enough. Check the URL for https:// (the s is for secure) and beware of pop-up forms. Look for businesses and organizations that follow safe online and e-mail practices and feature certifications from groups such as TrustE or ScanAlert. Note, however, that this isn't foolproof. (For more information, see the Solutions feature "Should You Trust TrustE?" in our issue of February 17.)
• Shred all documents that contain any personal information before throwing them away. Dumpster diving isn't just about finding quirky furniture; it's also a favorite pursuit of ID thieves.
• Finally, keep records of all online purchases, including dates and order numbers. Keep all credit card receipts and compare them against your monthly statements. Better yet, sign up to view your account online and track it on a daily or weekly basis.
These simple steps could save you hours (or even months) of blood, toil, tears, and sweat. Even though the ITRC reports that victims are finding out about stolen IDs sooner, it's taking them longer to eliminate negative information from their credit reports. And sometimes there are darker consequences. If a thief uses your name in committing a crime, you may find yourself on a wanted list.
In the end, as consumers, we can minimize our risks but not eliminate them. Even if we are vigilant, we're still vulnerable to errant business and government practices. Easy credit, vulnerable databases, and trash with unshredded sensitive information are just a few things that put us all at risk. It will take a concerted and sustained effort by individuals, governments, and businesses to get the upper hand with the ID thieves. Until then, continue to worry."
Source: PC Mag.com
Identity Theft: What, Me Worry?
March 2, 2004
By Janet Rubenking
"By now you're hopefully asking yourself what steps you can take to protect your identity. While you can never completely safeguard your identity, there are common ways to distance yourself from the crime. As they say on The X-Files, "Trust no one"—at least not when it comes to your personal information.
• Be suspicious of transactions you didn't initiate.
• Ask yourself if you really need to provide your Social Security number, and don't carry your Social Security card.
• Don't carry your credit cards and checkbook unless you plan to use them.
• Review your credit report, and close accounts you don't really need.
• Opt in for credit agencies' periodic credit watches. It's not free, but it might buy you some peace of mind.
• Take the contents of your wallet out and photocopy everything, front and back. Keep the copies in a secure place.
• When you get a new credit card, sign it immediately.
• Of course, your mailbox is an invitation to thieves. Get a locking mailbox, retrieve your mail immediately after delivery, or get a post office box. Never leave outgoing mail in your unprotected box for collection.
• When ordering checks, omit your driver's license number, Social Security number, and consider using only the initials of your first and middle name. And if possible, pick up your checks in-person instead of having them mailed.
• During all in-person transactions, watch the people you give your credit cards to carefully.
• If you use your credit cards online, be sure to navigate directly to the retailer's site. Avoid following links in e-mails, even to donate to your favorite cause.
• When buying or donating online, look for Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protection. A padlock in the bottom right-hand corner of your browser isn't enough. Check the URL for https:// (the s is for secure) and beware of pop-up forms. Look for businesses and organizations that follow safe online and e-mail practices and feature certifications from groups such as TrustE or ScanAlert. Note, however, that this isn't foolproof. (For more information, see the Solutions feature "Should You Trust TrustE?" in our issue of February 17.)
• Shred all documents that contain any personal information before throwing them away. Dumpster diving isn't just about finding quirky furniture; it's also a favorite pursuit of ID thieves.
• Finally, keep records of all online purchases, including dates and order numbers. Keep all credit card receipts and compare them against your monthly statements. Better yet, sign up to view your account online and track it on a daily or weekly basis.
These simple steps could save you hours (or even months) of blood, toil, tears, and sweat. Even though the ITRC reports that victims are finding out about stolen IDs sooner, it's taking them longer to eliminate negative information from their credit reports. And sometimes there are darker consequences. If a thief uses your name in committing a crime, you may find yourself on a wanted list.
In the end, as consumers, we can minimize our risks but not eliminate them. Even if we are vigilant, we're still vulnerable to errant business and government practices. Easy credit, vulnerable databases, and trash with unshredded sensitive information are just a few things that put us all at risk. It will take a concerted and sustained effort by individuals, governments, and businesses to get the upper hand with the ID thieves. Until then, continue to worry."
Source: PC Mag.com
Identity Theft: What, Me Worry?
March 2, 2004
By Janet Rubenking
