Identity theft has become a international multi-million dollar problem. According to the Federal Trade Commission, millions of Americans will have their identities stolen each year and most will not know until it is too late.
The most common types of identity theft are:
- Using or opening a 信用卡 account fraudulently.
- Opening cell phone or utility accounts fraudulently.
- Passing bad checks or opening new bank accounts.
- Getting loans using another person’s name.
- Applying 为 or receiving governmental aid using another person's name.
What Can You Do to Protect Yourself?
Look at your 信用卡 statements and check your bank account regularly. This is the first place that fraudulent or unauthorized activity will show up. 报告任何 discrepancies or unrecognized charges or withdrawals to the Fraud Unit with your bank or 信用卡 company 尽快. Federal laws limit the amount of time that you have to report such issues in order to recover or deny charges and withdrawals from your accounts.
Never give out personal in为mation over the phone, by email or through the regular mail unless you initiated the contact or personally know the caller. 小偷会冒充银行 代表, internet service providers, or even government agents in order to get your personal in为mation.
Never give personal or financial in为mation responding to an e-mail request, no matter who it appears sent it. No financial institution, government agency, or other legitimate organization will ever ask you 为 your personal in为mation, such as Social Security numbers, 账号, 信用卡号, 密码, 密码, 等. Don’t click on any links found 在电子邮件中. If you are concerned about whether an email is genuine, contact the organization that is referenced in the e-mail using a telephone number you have from other dealings 在组织中. Or open a new browser window and type in the correct web address yourself. Never cut and paste a link from the message into your browser's navigation bar. 钓鱼者或 other fraudulent persons can make links look like they are legitimate and will go to one place when they actually send you to their look-a-like website.
Shred any documents that contain any personal in为mation. If you do not have a shredder you can tear the items into small random pieces and dispose of them. 这些文件包括 医生, 信用卡, 银行对账单, 信用卡收据, 过期信用卡, 保险形式, old loyalty shopping cards, and even 信用卡 offers.
寄存外发邮件, like bill and 信用卡 payments, directly into a secure post office box, do not leave it in your own unsecured mailbox. Thieves are known to search mailboxes 为 personal and financial in为mation.
Don’t carry your Social Security card around on your person or in your wallet, only carry your ID and the minimum number of 信用卡s necessary 为 what you are doing at that time.
Don’t pre-print your Social Security or driver's license numbers on your checks.
Only give out your Social Security number when it is absolutely necessary. Instead ask if you can use other identifiers when possible.
Order a copy of your credit reports once a year to verify their accuracy. There are three different Credit Reporting Agencies and each one could have different in为mation. 你有权 to one free copy of your report each year from each of the Credit Reporting Agencies. If is recommended that you request the reports on a rotating cycle. This will allow you to get a report every four months allowing you to keep current on what the reports say. Just like with your accounts, you should report any discrepancies to the appropriate Credit Reporting Agency 尽快.
If you are a victim of theft or lose or misplace your credit/debit cards immediately contact your bank, 签证(1-800-336-8472)或万事达卡 (1-800-307-7309) to cancel them and order a replacement. Do not carry your Social Security Card on your person. 如果你失去了你的社交 安全卡,联系方式 1-800-772-1213 报告它.