November/December 2008:

Be alert to signs that require immediate attention:

Bills that do not arrive as expected

Unexpected credit cards or account statements

Denials of credit for no apparent reason

Calls or letters about purchases you did not make

Federal Trade Commission Brochure

September/October 2008:

Don't be a Victim!!!

To protect your self from identity theft, remember SCAM:

S Be STINGY about giving out personal information.

C CHECK your financial and credit-card statement as soon as they come in, and make sure they're all accounted for.

A ASK for your credit report and review it carefully. You are entitled to one free report a year from each of the three agencies.

M MAINTAIN records of your financial, purchasing, and other official activities for at least one year--longer, if possible---and keep them in a safe place.

Source: U. S. Department of Justice

Security information for July/August 2008:

Never click on links sent by unsolicited emails. Type in a web address you know. Use firewalls, anti-spyware, and anti-virus software to protect your computer. Keep firewall, spyware, and anti-virus software up to date.

Security information for June 2008:

Protect your Social Security number. Don't write your Social Security number on a check or carry your Social Security card in you wallet. Only use your Social Security number when absolutely necessary or use another identifier

Security information for April 2008:

Don't use an obvious password like your birth date, your mother's maiden name, or the last four digits of your Social Security number.

Security information for March 2008:

Never divulge personal information (Social Security number, credit card numbers, bank account numbers and information) to anyone soliciting this information on the phone.

ID Theft

Following are some simple tips to help prevent or avoid identity theft.

Order your checks with only your initial (instead of first name) and last name put on them. Should your checkbook be stolen, the thieves will not know if you sign your check with just your initials or your first name, but your bank will know how you sign your checks.

When writing checks to pay credit card accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number in the "For" line. The last four numbers of the account is sufficient, as the credit card company knows the rest of the number. Anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have access to your full credit card number.

Use your work phone number on your checks instead of your home phone.

If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home address or use your work address instead.

Never have your social security number printed on your checks. You can write it on the check if it is necessary.

Photocopy, Photocopy, Photocopy------------Everything in your wallet--both sides of each license, credit card, etc., You will then have a record of account numbers, and the phone numbers to call to cancel credit cards. This will come in handy if your wallet is ever lost or stolen. Keep the copies in a safe place. A photocopy of your passport when you travel might be a handy thing to have with you when traveling here or abroad.

In case your wallet or credit cards are stolen the following information may help to limit the damage:

See Photocopy, Photocopy, Photocopy above.

You will know what number to call and have your card numbers handy. Keep the photocopies in a safe place. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your wallet, credit cards, etc., were stolen. This proves to credit providers that you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation. Unfortunately there probably won't be an investigation.

Call the three national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and social security number. The alert means that any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen, and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.

Useful numbers:

Equifax: 1-800-525-6285

Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742

Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289

Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271

Shred, Shred, Shred or Burn, Burn, Burn all documents, papers, etc., that have your account numbers, (checking, credit cards, etc.,) or social security number on them. You should shred or burn old credit cards , bank statements, or old tax documents. Unscrupulous people actually go through your trash to retrieve this information and use it to ruin your credit.