Don't Have an Identity Crisis--Protect Your Information!

Image courtesy of  wgpd.com 

Identity theft is terrifying. An identity thief can do a lot of damage to your pocketbook and your credit, and   the cost of getting everything back on track can be pretty expensive. No one wants to be a victim, and many believe they're doing a good job to protect their identity. It’s not like their giving out their credit information-or are they? Consider the following scenario:
You get a call on your cell phone. “Hi Jane! This is Terry from Horizon and we got a fraud alert on your credit card. We need to verify your credit information to be sure this is a legitimate charge. Can you tell me your credit card number?” How many people would respond “Oh! Let me get my card!” and then give out their credit card number, or maybe even their debit card number? It might seem perfectly legitimate, but it's not. Please know that when we call you about your account we NEVER ask you to verify this kind of information.

Here are some suggestions to follow to help you protect your identity:

• Be sure you don’t give out any more information than you should. A financial institution doesn’t need your entire credit or debit card number to verify the card. If you have more than one card, they may ask for the last 4 digits to ensure they've located the correct card. That's all. 
• If you're shopping online, be sure the web address you use is secure. A secure web address begins with "https." The "s" indicates that the website is secure, and that your information is protected. A website that begins with only "http" is not secure, and should not be trusted with personal and identifying information. 
• If you're going on vacation, be sure that your mail is secured while you're gone. Identity thieves can take personal information, and even account numbers, from your mail. In order to keep your mail secure, you can have it held at the post office, or you can have a reliable friend/relative pick it up everyday. 
• Those annoying credit card offers can be a gold mine for identity thieves. Many just throw them in the trash, but you should  shred them! Shredders these days are relatively inexpensive and are well worth the price. 
• If you have any expired credit or debit cards,  cut them into 3 to 4 pieces and don’t throw them in the same trash bag. You can also go to your financial institution and ask them to dispose of your cards.
• Check your various bills/statements every month. Be sure to check out all the purchases/charges that are listed and be sure you remember authorizing them. If you do not recall authorizing a transaction on your account, report it to the card vendor immediately. It's important you call right away, as some credit cards may not reimburse you for fraudulent charges that are more than 3 months old.

Follow this link to the Federal Trade Commission website for lots of great tips and ideas about keeping your personal information secure!

Written By: Mary D.