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Think
of how many times a day you share
your personal information. You may
write a check at the grocery store,
apply for a credit card, make a call
on your cell phone, charge tickets
to a ballgame, mail your tax return
or buy airline tickets over the
Internet.
With each transaction, you share
your personal information: your bank
and credit card account numbers,
your income, your social security
number, your name, address and phone
number.
In 1998, Congress passed a law
making identity theft a federal
crime. The U.S. Secret Service, FBI
and U.S. Postal Inspection Service
investigate violations of the Act.
Persons accused of identity theft
are prosecuted by the Department of
Justice.
Unless you live your life in a
bubble, you can’t prevent the
stealing of your personal
information, but you can minimize
the risks of this crime happening to
you by following these suggestions
from the Independent Bankers
Association of Texas:
-
Never divulge information about
your social security number,
credit card number, account
passwords and other personal
information unless you initiate
contact with the person or
company you know and trust.
-
Don’t carry around more checks,
credit cards and other bank
items than you really need.
Don’t carry your social security
number in your wallet and pick
passwords and PINs (Personal
Identification Numbers) that
will be tough for someone to
figure out.
-
Protect your incoming and
outgoing mail, especially
envelopes that may contain
checks, credit card applications
or other information valuable to
a fraud artist. Deposit
outgoing mail, especially
something containing personal
financial information in the
official Post Office collection
boxes, hand it to the mail
carrier, or take it to the local
post office instead of leaving
it in your home mailbox.
-
Before discarding credit card
applications, cancelled checks,
bank statements or other
information useful to an
identity thief, tear it up as
best you can, preferably by
using a paper shredder.
-
Safely store extra checks,
credit cards and documents that
list your social security
number.
-
Contact your financial
institution immediately if there
is a discrepancy in your records
or you notice something
suspicious such as a missing
payment or unauthorized
withdrawals.
-
If
your credit card bill doesn’t
arrive on time, contact your
credit card company. This could
be a sign that someone has
stolen your account information,
changed your address and is
making large charges in your
name from another location.
-
Once a year check your credit
record with the three major
credit bureaus. To order your
report, call the following
toll-free numbers:
-
Equifax: 800-685-1111
Experian: 888-397-3742
Trans Union: 800-888-4213
If you
are a victim of ID Theft, take the
following steps:
-
Contact the fraud departments of
each of the three major credit
bureaus and request a “fraud
alert” be placed on your file
and no new credit be granted
without your approval.
-
Close any accounts that have
been fraudulently accessed or
opened.
-
File a local police report and
get a copy of the report to your
bank, credit card company or
others that may need proof of
the crime.
The
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is
the federal clearinghouse for
complaints by victims of identity
theft. Although the FTC does not
have the authority to bring criminal
cases, it can assist victims by
providing information to help
resolve problems that can result
from identity theft. Should you
find yourself a victim of identity
theft, you can file a complaint with
the FTC by calling toll-free
1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338).
Most of us assume that thieves are
only interested in the cash in our
wallet or purse, when in many cases,
they are more interested in access
to sensitive information that can be
used to steal our identity. Use
caution and don’t be the next victim
of identity theft or other financial
fraud.
"How Not to Get Hooked by the 'Phishing'
Scam" - Federal Trade Commission,
July 2003
"ID Theft: When Bad Things Happen
to Your Good Name" - Federal Trade
Commission, September 2002
Provided as a public
service by First Commercial Bank and
the Independent Bankers Association
of Texas (IBAT) |
