![]() Be careful using ATMs and phone cards.Do not put your telephone number on checks.If a government agency requests your social security number, there must be a privacy notice accompanying the request. If a business requests your social security number, give them an alternate number and explain why. Do not put your social security number on your checks or your credit receipts.Don't carry your social security card, birth certificate, or passport, unless necessary. Minimize the identification information and the number of cards you carry.Do not use your mother's maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your social security number, or a similar series of numbers as a password for anything.Shred all documents, including pre-approved credit applications received in your name, insurance forms, bank checks and statements you are discarding, and other financial information.Identity thieves will pose as bank representatives, Internet service providers, and even government officials to get you to reveal identifying information. Do not give out personal information over the phone, through the mail, or over the Internet unless you have initiated the contact or know whom you're dealing with."Dumpster divers" pick up information you may have thrown away, such as utility bills, credit card slips, and other documents. They get the information from your doctor, lawyer, school, health insurance carrier, and many other places. Once the first account is opened, they can continue to add to their credibility. They often claim they have moved and provide their own address. With this information and a fake driver's license, they can apply in person for instant credit or through the mail posing as you. The imposter obtains your social security number, your birth date, and other identifying information such as your address and phone number. Thousand of dollars can be stolen without the victim knowing about it for months or even years. Identity theft or identity fraud is the taking of a victim's identity to obtain credit, credit cards from banks and retailers, steal money from a victim's existing accounts, apply for loans, establish accounts with utility companies, rent an apartment, file bankruptcy, or obtain a job using the victim's name. Identity theft is the fastest-growing crime in America, affecting half a million new victims each year. Chances are you don't give these routine transactions a second thought. In the course of the day you may write a check at the drugstore, charge tickets to a concert, rent a car, call home on your cell phone, or apply for a credit card. ![]()
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