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February 17, 2006

Identity Theft—Keeping Your Good Name

Someone is using your Social Security number. Your new checks never arrived by mail. You responded to an e-mail with asking for sensitive information, such as your bank account number and your mother’s maiden name. You have just become a victim of identity theft.

The Federal Trade Commission provides a comprehensive checklist of steps to avoid identity theft and straighten out your identity if it has already been stolen. Topics include credit card, mail and passport fraud, fraudulent bank withdrawals, misuse of Social Security numbers, e-mail “phishing” and much more.

You can safeguard your personal information with easy steps, such as installing a firewall on your computer, shredding preapproved credit card offers before discarding them, keep credit card receipts, and don’t use your birthday, pet’s name or last four numbers of your Social Security number as a password. For further advice on minimizing the sting of identity theft read this recent Newsweek article.

Posted by hinsdalereference at February 17, 2006 4:19 PM