Following these Preventative Measures (DO’S AND DON’TS) from the United States Postal Inspection Service will assist you from becoming the victim of Identity Theft.
- Have all information removed from you personal checks except your INITIALS (for your first and middle name) and your LAST NAME. There are no laws requiring what information must be on checks.
- Have any checks you order delivered to your credit union and pick them up there (there might be an additional charge, but it’s worth it).
- Purchase a paper shredder for your home and do not throw any documents in the trash that might subsequently be used to steal your identity. These documents include preapproved credit applications, phone records, financial statements, billing documents and any other records with any account or personal information.
- Do not give out your personal information i.e.(Date of Birth; Social Security Number) to anyone (over the phone or in person) unless you are sure how it is to be used. Same for ANY credit card numbers or
information. - Request a copy of your credit history AT LEAST once a year from one of the three credit reporting agencies. www.annualcreditreport.com (One report a year free)
a. EXPERIAN 1-888-397-3742
b. EQUIFAX 1-800-685-1111
c. TRANSUNION 1-800-916-8800 - Tear out and destroy/shred the back page of any catalogs received showing your name/address with a customer number and/or catalog number. Also, look for any envelope on the inside of the catalog and destroy/shred it also since it often has the same information on it.
- Place any OUTGOING mail in the blue boxes at the post office and not in your home mailbox.
