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Identity Theft and Fraud Protection - What Can You Do? Part II

   Identity Theft Protection | Featured Articles

Here are some helpful steps that you can take to help reduce the risk of becoming a victim of identity theft and fraud via telephone and internet.

Telephone

  • Never give out your credit card, bank account, or Social Security Number over the telephone unless you have a trusted business relationship with the business or organization. Release your Social Security Number only when necessary for tax, employment, or financial transactions; when possible ask to use an alternate identifying number.
  • Consider not listing your residence telephone number in the telephone book, or just list your name and number, but not your address, professional designations, qualifications or affiliations.
Online
  • Only shop on secure internet sites (with URL that begins with "https:/" and a lock symbol that will show in your browser), or place your order by telephone or mail.
  • Only provide your ID and passcode or personal and account information when your browser indicates a secure (encrypted) connection and they are sites you trust where you initiated the contact.
  • Do not share your login access codes or passwords for online banking, online brokerage and online bill pay services with anyone.
  • Change your online account password regularly.
  • Remember to sign off the website once you have submitted an application or completed a secure online session.
  • When your computer is not in use, shut it down or disconnect it from the internet.
  • Do not respond to unsolicited e-mails from companies with which you do business requesting that you re-validate personal information or that link to websites requesting that you re-validate personal information. Should you receive such an e-mail, contact the company directly via phone or by typing in their home URL directly to determine the validity of the e-mail.
  • Do not click on "links" you receive in an e-mail message. Open your browser and enter the address directly.
  • If e-mails or websites contain typographical or grammatical errors, review them carefully as these are often signs of fraud attempts to compromise your information.
  • If you think you may have provided information to a fraud perpetrator, change your password immediately and contact the company(ies) where your information may have been compromised. Ongoing, monitor your account activity frequently.
Ultimately, protect your personal and account information at all times. Treat this information as the valuable asset it is.

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