Seniors especially, are targets of scams and fraud, so this month the ESPC will provide information on how to better protect yourself and your family members.
Let’s start with some tips on how to avoid becoming a victim of identity theft and what to do if you feel that your identification has been compromised. Try as we might, and as safe as we try to keep our information, those individuals out there that make their living unscrupulously, are always finding new ways to get our personal information and steal our identities.
Although there is no absolute method to prevent identity theft, you can certainly make it more difficult for the predators and scam artists to obtain your information.
The first order of business should be to protect your social security number at all costs. Contact the credit bureaus and request that only the last four digits of your social security number be used on your credit report. Don’t carry more credit cards than you need, and never have your social security number printed on your checks.
Don’t throw away anything that has your personal information on it, shred it. Keep track of when your bills are due or your statements arrive, and notify the company if it doesn’t show up when it should.
Be careful when responding to unsolicited promotions on the Internet or through the mail. Identity thieves often create advertising just to obtain your personal and financial information.
Never fall for a “claim your prize” scam that asks for your personal information before your prize is sent to you.
If you are planning on going away for vacation on an extended trip, put a vacation hold on your mail. You may do this by contacting the U.S. Postal Service at 1-800-275-8777. Mail left unattended in your mailbox may provide important personal information to thieves.
Never give out your personal information on the phone, through the mail or via the Internet unless you are the one that initiated the contact.
Place your telephone number on the “Do Not Call” list by calling 1-888-382-1222 and block telemarketers from contacting you.
If you believe that you have had checks stolen or misused, contact Telecheck at 1-800-710-9898, Certegy/Global Payments 1-800-437-5120 or ChexSystems 1-800-328-5121.
If you believe your social security number has been compromised, or that you have been a victim of identity theft or fraud, immediately contact the Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft Hotline at 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338).
You will also want to notify the three major credit bureaus, Equifax — 1-800-685-1111,EXPERIAN — 1-888-EXPERIAN and TransUnion — 1-800-916-8800.
The following websites contain information to help protect your identity and to assist if your identity has been stolen:
www.consumer.gov/idtheft
www.equifax.com
www.experien.com
www.transunion.com
www.donotcall.gov
www.telecheck.com
www.chexhelp.com
www.ssa.gov
www.csa.usa
Source: Christine Ogden; ESPC Public Relations Committee; www.espcfrederick.com
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