Preventing Identity Theft

By: AARP Education & Outreach | Source: AARP.org | June 14, 2005

You have now learned many of the ways you can protect yourself from identity theft—or at least made it harder for a thief to snatch personal information from you. You are now on your guard against identity theft because you know how thieves try to get your personal information.

You had probably heard a lot about identity theft before you took this course, but now you better understand what it is and how it happens. It's more than having someone misuse your lost credit card. As bad as that might be, you know that laws protect you from credit card fraud and limit your liability to no more than $50, if you act promptly.

Remember Janet Romano who told her story at the beginning of this course? She learned the hard way about phishing. You are now alert to how phishing happens. When you get an email that looks official and directs you to a Web site asking for personal information, you are confident that this is a scam. You delete the e-mail.

Mary W. didn't realize that identity thieves like to dumpster dive to find discarded information. She learned the hard way to shred any pieces of paper and even junk mail that has identifying information. You use a shredder, especially for mail from credit card companies, loan applications, credit card and bank statements, credit card receipts. You'd never throw away a credit card without cutting it up first.

Like Sue G. you know that your mail—coming in or going out—can contain lots of the pieces of information about you that a thief would like. That's why you always place your out-going mail in an official mail box and promptly gather up your new mail in a secure place, even inside your home.

When you go shopping you are cautious how you use your credit cards, ATM card, or telephone calling card. You know that you want to keep these cards out of sight and out of the hands of anyone who might be looking over your shoulder or overhearing you. And you don't give out those numbers intentionally or even unintentionally.

Speaking of numbers, you are convinced that your Social Security number is one of the most valuable keys to your identity. Now you are less willing to give it out just because someone asks for it. Before putting it on any form, you ask why the person needs it and what they will do with it.

You hope identity theft will never happen to you, but you know it is a good idea to order your credit report. Now that it will be free, you'll check your credit report at least annually. If you see anything suspicious on your credit report, or your bank or credit statement, you know how important it is to act promptly. Once your personal information gets into the hands of thieves, the damage can spread rapidly.

In the words of Sgt. Esterhaus of the old TV series Hill Street Blues, "Let's be careful out there."