Identity Theft Solutions

Your wallet is missing. Thousands of dollars have been
charged to your credit cards, your checking account is
empty, and loans you never took out appear on your credit
report. What happened? You've been a victim of identity
theft - an increasingly common and inventive crime.

Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal
information to commit fraud or other crimes. It may
also involve computer fraud, mail fraud, wire fraud, and
financial institution fraud.

Fortunately, there are preventative measures you can
take to substantially reduce the chance of identity theft
occurring, as well as steps to recover from any damage if
you are a victim.

Identity Theft Risk Assessment

How secure is your personal information against identity theft? To find out, answer Yes or No to the following questions.

1. I shred all pre-approved credit offers, account statements, and financial
   documents before disposing of them.
2. I never carry my Social Security card.
3. I have a locked, secured mailbox.
4. My Social Security and driver license numbers are not printed on my checks.
5. I review each of my credit reports annually.
6. I only carry those credit cards that I use.
7. I carefully review my monthly credit card statements before paying them.
8. When shopping on the Internet, I buy only from secure websites.
9. I am aware of all my creditor due dates, and know immediately if a bill is missing.
10. I know the security procedures at my place of work.
11. I never reveal personal information unless I initiated the contact and know exactly who I'm dealing with.
12. I have up-to-date virus protection software installed on my computer.
13. I never store personal and financial information on my laptop.
14. I know exactly what to do and who to contact in case my wallet is stolen.
15. I have complete copies of all my credit cards stored in a safe place.
16. All of my account passwords are too complicated for anyone to guess.

For maximum identity theft prevention, all of the answers should be Yes. Have a few (or more) No's? Download your Identity Theft Kit to learn more information.