Individuals need to be proactive about protecting their personal information. Credit card numbers and social security numbers should be carefully guarded. If one’s identity is stolen, the victim is usually unaware until collection agencies or tax authorities contact him with demands for payment of large sums of money.
Personal Information Taken from the Mail and Garbage
A primary way in which identity thieves gain information about their victims is through garbage and mail. Other methods are stealing credit card information with concealed or sometimes cell phone cameras. Once the thieves have the information, it is usually sold to another party who then obtains credit in the victim’s name running up significant bills before moving on to the next victim.
Taking Action to Prevent Identity Theft
Here are some ways to take action on identity protection:
- Purchase and use a shredder
- Be wary of others when using an ATM, be certain no one can watch entry of your PIN
- Watch for surveillance devices that may record your information
- Never lose sight of a credit card, a parking attendant may photograph a credit card before returning it back
- Mail checks from a post office, not from a mail box in front of the home
- Have a complete list of all credit card numbers, passwords and bank accounts kept in a secure location, not on a computer which may be accessed by others
- Write on a credit card instructions to a clerk to ask for identification
- Register any change of address with the Post Office
- Notify all suppliers of credit and financial services directly of any address change
- Do not carry unused credit cards
- Check credit reports kept by all three major credit bureaus
- Opt out of unsolicited credit card offers
- Register for fraud alerts with the credit bureaus
Contact Information for the Credit Bureaus
Equifax Credit Information Services
PO Box 105873
Atlanta, GA 30348
800-685-1111
Experian
PO Box 2002
Allen, TX 75013-2002
888-397-3742
Trans Union
Consumer Relations Center
PO Box 1000
Chester, PA 19022
800-888-4213 OR 440-779-7200
Opting out of Unsolicited Credit Card Offers
A rich source of information for identity thieves are mailboxes. A particularly useful find for such a thief is an unsolicited offer for credit which has been pre-approved. These offers show up regularly, and it is not difficult for a thief to take such an offer from a mailbox, send it in and watch the mail for the credit card to arrive. There is an option available for opting out of such offers. It is run by the credit reporting agencies and allows consumers to avoid having unsolicited offers of credit or insurance sent to them
This option can be exercised by visiting:
https://www.optoutprescreen.com
Or Calling:
1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688)
For someone to be maintained on the opt out list, it must be renewed every five years. One can be put back on the list to receive offers at any time.
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