Protect yourself from identity theft

There are many ways you can protect yourself from identity theft. The following being the most important.

• Shred all personal information using a cross cut shredder.
• Place Fraud Alerts on your credit account and renew them every 90 days. (Per the FACT Act – if you have a good faith suspicion that you are or are about to become a victim of identity theft)
• Monitor your credit report for any unauthorized changes at all 3 bureaus. (Tip: stagger them, one bureau every 4 months)
• Remove yourself from pre-authorized credit lists
• Avoid sending or receiving personally identifying information in the mail such as checks and bank statements.
• Never give out your SSN, or any information for that matter, unless necessary
• Do not carry your SSN, Passport (unless out of county), Birth Certificate, PINs, or Checks in your wallet or purse
• Be aware of Phishing Attempts, and telemarketing phone calls that request private information.
• Use security software for your computer and only shop at reputable businesses.
• Purchase identity theft insurance