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Society > Crime > Identity Theft > Preventing Identity Theft > 8 Expert Tips for Preventing Identity Theft
8 Expert Tips for Preventing Identity Theft
Submitted 2005-11-30 08:31:57 by psiolent
Rating: 0 (0 votes) | 1531 Views
Section: Preventing Identity Theft
I found a great article with 8 tips for preventing identity theft. I'll reiterate them here in case the article is taken down:
1. Don’t carry your Social Security card with you, or print this number on your checks.
2. Every year, get a copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit-reporting agencies. Each agency has a Web site, or you can order all three at www.annualcreditreport.com.
3. Using the toll-free telephone number 888-567-8688, you can ask not to be mailed unasked-for credit offers. This is a good idea because ID thieves often use these mailings to steal data.
4. If your state offers a do-not-call list to protect you from telemarketers, sign up.
5. Don’t give out credit-card or bank-account numbers over the phone unless you are positive you’re speaking with a trusted merchant.
6. Tell your bank, insurance company, and stock broker not to share your personal data with other firms.
7. Close rarely-used credit-card accounts. Study your statements carefully to spot unauthorized activity.
8. Invest in a personal shredder to destroy sensitive records before discarding them. Remember, 70% of all ID theft occurs not through high-tech means, but through old-fashioned tactics such as dumpster diving. |
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