Protecting Information

Protecting Your Information

There are steps you can take to fight identity theft. Your best weapon is prevention.

Don't

  • Don't give your personal information to anyone via the telephone, mail, or internet, unless you initiated contact
  • Don't carry your social security card or other important documents
  • Don't write your PIN number on the back of your ATM card or carry it with your bank cards
  • Don't leave your purse, wallet, license, social security card, or other identification documents in your vehicle
  • Don't have your checks pre-printed with unnecessary information (such as your license number, social security number, or phone number

Do

  • Do shred unneeded or old receipts, account statements, or any documents that contain your personal information
  • Do store all of your personal information or important documents in a safe place, i.e. in a locked cabinet or safe
  • Do protect any personal information stored on your computer by password protecting files and having secure internet connections
  • Do protect your PIN and passwords
  • Do consider putting additional layers of security on your accounts, such as a verbal password required for any phone transactions done with your bank
  • Do protect your mail by installing a locking mailbox and/or collecting your mail in a timely manner
  • Do protect your mail by delivering any outgoing mail, especially bill payments containing paper checks, directly to the Post Office or an official Post Office Mailbox
  • Do remove your name from mailing lists for pre-approved credit offers by calling 888-5-OPT-OUT and place your phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry
  • Do request and review your credit report several times each year
  • Do monitor your bank accounts daily or weekly for any unauthorized or unusual activity
  • Do close all extraneous or unused credit card and bank accounts. Keep only those accounts you regularly use