A big concern today is identity theft or "ID theft," which occurs when
an individual learns someone's Social Security number (SSN), bank
account information or other details that can be used to go on a
buying or borrowing binge. While law enforcement agencies, financial
industry regulators, financial institutions and other organizations
are working together to prevent ID theft and other financial crimes,
consumers need to take precautions.
Protect your Social Security number, bank account and credit card
numbers, PINs (personal identification numbers), passwords and other
personal information.
Never provide this information in response to a phone call, a fax, a
letter or an e-mail you've received — no matter how friendly or
official the circumstances may appear.
Be especially careful with your SSN. Don't provide it to any business
unless you're convinced it's necessary and the information will be
protected.
Also be aware that friends, family members, roommates and workers who
come into homes make up a large percentage of identity thieves. They
often are in the best position to find and use confidential
information.
Guard your mail, which may include a credit card or bank statement, an
envelope containing a check, documents showing confidential
information, or other items that a thief can steal from a mailbox.
Try to use a locked mailbox or other secure location for your incoming
mail. Pick up your mail as soon as possible. And for outgoing mail
containing a check or personal information, put it in a blue Postal
Service mailbox, hand it to a mail carrier or take it to the post
office instead of leaving it in your doorway or home mailbox.
Keep your financial trash "clean."
Don't throw away old ATM or credit card receipts, bank statements, tax
returns or other documents containing personal information without
shredding them first. ID thieves pick through trash bins looking for
trash they can turn into cash.
Use extra care with personal information on a computer or over the
Internet.
Never provide bank, credit card or other sensitive information when
visiting a Web site that doesn't explain how your personal information
would be protected, including its use of "encryption" to safely
transmit and store data.
Be on guard against incoming e-mails claiming to be from a trusted
source — perhaps a bank, another company you know or even a government
agency — asking you to "update" or" confirm" personal information.
"Reputable organizations won't contact you to verify account
information online because they already have it," said Sandra
Thompson, a Deputy Director of the FDIC's Division of Supervision and
Consumer Protection.
If you get one of those fraudulent e-mails (they're called "phishing"
scams), don't click on any links or attachments because doing so could
activate some types of spyware or viruses.
Take other precautions with your personal computer. Examples: Install
a free or low-cost "firewall" to stop intruders from gaining remote
access to your PC. Download and frequently update security "patches"
offered by your operating system and software vendors to correct
weaknesses that a hacker might exploit. Use software that detects and
blocks "spyware," which can record your keystrokes to obtain your
credit card number and other personal information.
Before selling, donating or disposing of an old personal computer, use
special software to completely erase files that contain financial
records, tax returns and other personal information.
"If you use someone else's computer, such as a computer provided by
your school, do not put your Social Security number or other personal
information onto the computer," added Thompson. "Even if you go back
and delete what you typed in, your personal information will remain on
the computer's hard-drive and may be retrieved by an identity thief."
Beware of offers that seem too good to be true.
Con artists often pose as charities or business people offering jobs,
rewards or other "opportunities." They hope that trusting souls will
send cash or checks, provide SSNs or credit card numbers, or wire
money from a bank account.
Be extremely suspicious of any offer that involves "easy money" or
"quick fixes." Be careful if you're being pressured to make a quick
decision and you're asked to send money or provide bank account
information before you receive anything in return. Also beware of any
transaction for which you receive a cashier's check made out for more
money than the amount due to you with a request to wire back the
difference — you could lose a lot of money if the check is fraudulent.
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