A special holiday
reminder from ChristianHomeschoolers.com
...
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 Identity Thieves - The Grinches Who Steal
Your
Christmas...
By Bert and Bing
Howard, Certified ID Theft Risk Management
Specialists
10-Year Homeschooling
Family
Don't let identity thieves be the grinches who steal your
Christmas. They are working over-time this
holiday season! The time between
Thanksgiving and Christmas is the biggest
travel and shopping season
of the year. As we enter the holiday season, we
would like to remind everyone
to be aware and take the following precautions
against identity theft. After all, tis'
the season to enjoy, not be stressed
as an identity theft victim. Follow these
simple but practical steps to reduce your risk
from identity theft:
-
Computer
& Car Theft Issues:
NEVER leave your laptop, purse, or any item with credit cards,
checks, a driver’s license or Social Security Numbers visible in
your car (even just for a second – that’s all it takes for a thief
to strike). It’s an invitation to steal. A great way to
handle this is to lock these items in the trunk of your car while
you are in the garage and not when you arrive at your
destination.
-
Credit, Debit, and Bank
Accounts:
-
-
Sign all new credit cards immediately to
prevent someone else from doing so.
-
Immediately report lost or stolen credit
cards.Watch your credit card expiry dates, if you
don’t receive a replacement card prior to the date - contact the
issuer.
-
Write checks with a gel pen with specially formulated ink that
absorbs into the paper fibers or one with non-erasable ink.
This makes it harder for a thief to
alter.
-
Credit Report:
There is no
better time to start reviewing and monitoring your consumer credit
report than now! Go to
www.AnnualCreditReport.com
and request your FREE credit reports.
-
Financial
Statements: Be aware and note when your
monthly financial statements arrive in the mail. Notify your
financial
institutions when they don’t arrive when expected. Watch your
financial statements and ensure all charges made are
yours.
-
Keep a list:
List all your
financial accounts such as account numbers, expiry dates, and
customer help telephone numbers. Ensure this list is kept in a safe
place & use this to notify these institutions in case of lost
or stolen cards.
-
Lock-Up
and Protect: Lock up
any documents with financial, credit or Social Security information
on them BEFORE allowing guests into your home for that holiday
party.
-
Mail Alert:
Bring your mail
in daily. Don’t leave incoming and outgoing mail in your mailbox
without a lock.
We
recommend that you mail envelopes containing checks or sensitive
information inside the post office before the last pickup of the
day.
-
Online
Shopping: Keep a printout of the web
page(s) describing the item you ordered, any email messages, and
the page that shows the seller’s name, address, telephone number
and return policies should you have any problems. For online
purposes, it is not necessary to provide a Social Security
Number. A credit card number is preferred for on-line
purchases. Make sure the company is on a secure server with
“https” and a locked padlock.
-
Passwords &
PIN: When creating passwords or
PINs, do not use digits of your social security number, mother’s
maiden name, your birthdate, any part of your name (first, middle,
last). A strong password combines eight or more random letters and
numbers. Add
passwords to all your credit card accounts, financial accounts and
utility accounts to verify your
identity.
-
Phone & Mail
Solicitations:
-
-
Never
reveal your
bank account, credit card, mother’s maiden name or social security
number over the phone (unless dealing with a trusted business or
organization). Ask the caller for a phone number for you to call
them back or ask them to send information by
mail.
-
Consider making
your telephone number unlisted or listed without your
address.
-
Beware of mail or telephone
contacts informing you of prizes and awards - especially if they
ask for personal or financial account
information
-
Beware of charitable
solicitations for donations by phone. Never give your financial
information over the phone to make donations. If you want to give
to charity, contact them
directly.
-
Purse snatching and
pickpockets: Minimize what you
carry with you. Credit cards, debit cards, check books, and
deposit slips are the easiest items for a thief to use. Make it
difficult for a thief to access your information. Unzipped purses,
backpacks or open bags are open invitations to pickpockets.
If carrying a purse, loop the strap over your shoulder and have the
clasp-side of the purse against the FRONT of your
body.
-
Receipts:
Keep your ATM
and Debit Card receipts, do not leave these behind.
It is now
mandatory that businesses truncate all but the last 5 numbers on
credit card numbers and the expiration date on the customer copy of
receipts. If the number is not truncated, place it in a
secure location in your wallet. Do not throw receipts in
purchase bags. Pickpockets and thieves most likely won’t
steal grandma’s new sweater, but they will be happy to take the
receipt that may have your credit card number on
it.
-
Shopping & Shoulder
Surfing: Shoppers often open
new credit cards to cover large holiday purchases. This makes
it a perfect time for shoulder surfers to “borrow” sensitive
information. Take a few extra moments to protect credit
cards, driver’s licenses and checks from wandering eyes.
Instead of verbally sharing requested sensitive information, write
it down for the clerk and take that slip of paper home with
you.
-
Shred:
Shred and
destroy unwanted documents and mail that contain personal and
financial information.
Shred mail order catalog order forms and labels
pre-printed with your
information.
-
Social Security
Number: Do not carry
your social security card or your birth certificate. Keep these
tucked away in a safe place. Your Social Security Number
is more valuable than gold to identity thieves. Be stingy with
your Social Security Number- there are only a limited number of
reasons a company might need
it.
The holiday season doesn’t have to
be an open door to identity thieves. According to the FBI and
FTC, you cannot stop Identity Theft, but by following these simple
tips you can minimize your risk and not make yourself an easy
target. For Federal Trade Commission resources on identity theft,
visit www.idtheft.gov.
If you find this information
of benefit, please forward to your friends and family. The threat
of Identity Theft is very real, but you don’t have to let identity
thieves spoil your holiday season. We wish you a Blessed and
Safe Thanksgiving and Christmas Season!
Contact The Howards
for additional information on Identity Theft
and legal
solutions, and no-cost presentations for
your business, church, association or group.
Website http://www.iHelpFamilies.com
-
"Bad things happen to good people! If you
don't know your rights, you don't have
any!"
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