Preventing Identity Theft
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2005-06-01 00:00:00-04:00
Session 2 - Make Your Identity Harder to Steal
An identity theft can make your life pretty miserable. Victims universally complain that it takes days—or even months or years —to straight out the financial mess created by identity thieves. Sometimes the victim never finds out how it happened. We also know that sometimes there is nothing the person could have done to stop the thief. But there is no reason to hand them the tools they need to commit their crimes.
No matter what you do to secure your home, it can be burglarized. But we all still make sure we lock the doors, stop the newspapers, and leave some lights on when we go away on a trip. We don't leave the keys in the car, the windows open, and a laptop computer on the seat when we park our car. We've learned what to do to make our homes and cars less inviting to thieves. Now let's look at what you can do to make your identity less inviting.
In Session One, you learned what your identity actually is, and how thieves can steal it. In this session, you will learn some things you can do to reduce the risk of your identity being stolen.
Important Pieces of Information About You
Your first step is to make the identity thief's job more difficult. You want to limit the thief's opportunities to piece together bits of information needed to create a new identity.
Think back to the experiences of Janet, John, Maria and others in Session One. What pieces of information were used to steal their identities? Can you think of other essential pieces of personal information that make up your identity that you don't want thieves to get?
Take a moment to write down on a piece of paper at least five bits of information that a thief needs to create a new you.
Check Your Answers
This information about you can be found in many places. One treasure trove of information about you is in your wallet or billfold.
Do a wallet check
For this next exercise, you'll need your wallet so take a moment to get it.
Take a look in your wallet and answer these questions:
1) How many cards with identifying information about you are you carrying?
TIPS BOXLimit the number of cards you carry. If you should lose your wallet or if your billfold is stolen, thieves will get fewer bits of information to create a new identity. The more cards you carry, the more information the thief can piece together
2) Did you find your Social Security card?
TIPS BOXYour Social Security number is one of the most valuable bits of your identity. You have no good reason to carry this card. Instead, keep it in a safe place in your home.
3) Did you find your Medicare card?
TIPS BOXThe identification number on your Medicare card is your Social Security number. Only carry this card when you are going to a doctor's appointment or know you will need it.
AARP and others are working to change the law to stop Medicare from printing your Social Security number on this card. The Social Security Administration has stopped printing your Social Security number on correspondence and checks. We want Medicare to do the same.
If your regular insurance card shows your Social Security number, call the company to ask for a new card with a substitute number. If they won't do it, ask them to change their policy and don't carry the card unless you know you will be using it.
4) How many cards have your Social Security number?
TIPS BOXThieves love your Social Security number. With your number, they can impersonate you and obtain new credit accounts. Check your driver's license to make sure it does not have your Social Security number. If it's there, take a trip to your department of motor vehicles. Most states have stopped using Social Security numbers on licenses. You may need to get a new license. But isn't it time for a new picture anyway?
While you are checking, look at your bank checks. It's not a good idea to have your Social Security number printed on the check. The next time you order checks, make sure you only have your name and address on the check.
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What your score means:
If you score above 20, you are reducing your risk of identity theft and guarding your Social Security number. Keep up the good work and read on.
If you score below 20, you need to work on reducing your risk of identity theft. Read on.
Print "Ways to Protect Your Identity."
[Design item: turn quiz into a PDF. Format as a one page pdf with large print]
Your wallet is not the only place where thieves might get personal information about you to use to steal your identity. In Session Three, we will look in other places where you need to protect your identity from getting into the hands of an identity thief.
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