Understand What They Do.

Identity thieves work in many ways, like:

• Opening fraudulent bank or credit card accounts in your name and then writing bad checks or incurring charges. The overdrawn or delinquent accounts appear on your credit report.
• Changing your billing address and incurring charges on your existing credit card accounts. Because you never receive the statements, you are unlikely to recognize the problem for some time.
• Establishing unauthorized loans in your name.
• Using your name and background information to obtain employment or medical treatment.
• Using your name if they are arrested for a crime.
• Committing tax-related fraud by using your SSN to file a tax return to get a refund.

How Does It Occur?

Identity thieves use various methods to steal your information, such as:

• Stealing your wallet or purse.
• Going through trash bins or unsecured mailboxes for unshredded personal information.
• Stealing newly issued credit cards, utility bills, insurance statements, benefits documents or other information from unsecured mailboxes.
• Completing a change of address form to divert your mail to another location.
• Posing as a loan officer, employer or landlord to obtain your credit report.
• Shoulder surfing at automated teller machines (ATMs) to capture your personal identification numbers (PINs).
• Placing malicious software (malware) on your computer that can steal user IDs, passwords, and more.
• Hacking into computer databases and stealing your personal information.
• Stealing files from your employer, merchants, physician’s offices or other businesses that maintain your personal records.
• Conducting phone or e-mail scams or hoaxes requesting that you provide personal information to claim a prize or update an account.

Reduce Access to Your Personal Information.

Nothing you can do will guarantee protection against identity theft in all circumstances. However, you can minimize your risk by reducing access to your personal information.

• Memorize your SSN.
• Never carry your number in your wallet.
• Protect documentation that displays your SSN.
• Do not have your SSN or driver’s license number printed on personal checks.
• Keep account numbers confidential.
• Store personal records such as birth certificates and Social Security cards in a safe deposit box at your financial institution.
• Store your wallet or purse in a secure location while at work or in public places.
• Do not store personal information, account information, or online IDs and passwords to your financial institution on your smartphone or any other electronic storage device.
• Shield account numbers and PINs from view when using credit or debit cards.
• Use ATM's that are in familiar and well-lit locations where you feel comfortable. When approaching an ATM, have your card out of your wallet ready to use. Do not use ATMs that appear to have been tampered with. Report it to the bank.
• Use a cross-cut shredder to dispose of documents, compact discs (CDs) or digital video disks (DVDs) with personal or financial information.
• Use a secured postal mailbox. Have your mail held at your local post office when you are traveling.
• Request online delivery of bank, credit card, investment or insurance statements.
• Review your monthly financial statements for unauthorized entries or transactions.
• Do not display your full name in the phone book. Consider an unlisted phone number.
• Use a credit monitoring service.
• Review your credit report at least annually.
• Review your social network privacy settings.