Protect Yourself From Identity Theft

• Protect your Social Security number and credit card account numbers. Don't give them to anyone over the telephone if they've called you. Hang up and call the company back using a telephone number you find (NOT ONE THEY GIVE YOU) to check that it was a legitimate inquiry.

• Cancel unused credit cards.

• Limit the amount of identification and the number of credit cards you carry.

• When making transactions over the Internet, use only a secure site. Look for the lock icon on the Web page.

• Don't leave envelopes with checks inside in an unsecured mailbox. Try to use a sealed U. S. Post Office mailbox for your correspondence. If you have an open mailbox, make an effort to pick up your mail promptly. Don't leave mail in your mailbox overnight or on weekends.

• Completely destroy or shred copies of credit card receipts, statements from financial institutions, tax returns and loan applications before discarding them. Keep the ones you need in a SECURE place.

• Look for statements from financial institutions and verify that the account information is correct.

• Never give your Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) to anyone, for any reason. Watch out for a scam that is known as phishing where someone calls or emails you and claims to be from one of your accounts (Internet provider, credit card, etc.) and wants to verify your information by requesting that you give them your account number, Social Security number, etc.—DON'T GIVE OUT THIS INFORMATION. Immediately call those companies and notify them about these abuses.

• Watch for unexplained interruptions in your mail service. If there is one, contact your local post office and verify that your address has not been changed without your knowledge.

• Review a copy of your credit report at least once a year.