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Be all you can be but don't let someone else be you: Avoiding Identity Theft
TIPS 
Tags: identity theft, FBI, telemarketers, fraud, steal, cheat, telemarketing fraud, white collar crime, advanced fee, scams, con artists
You can reduce the chance a con artist can go on a spending spree with your money or steal your identify by taking the following precautions. What tips do you have?
| | Give your SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER only when absolutely necessary. Ask to use other types of identifiers when possible. If your state uses your SSN as your driver's license number, ask to substitute another number. |
| | SIGN CREDIT/DEBIT when they arrive. It's harder for thieves to forge your signature. Your card is technically not valid w/o a signature, so if you want to write CID, sign it also. Never leave the signature line blank--anyone can fill in his name. |
| | CARRY ONLY THE CARDS YOU NEED. Extra cards increase your risk and your hassle if your wallet is stolen. |
| | KEEP YOUR PIN NUMBERS SECRET. Never write a PIN on a credit/debit card or on a slip of paper kept with your card. |
| | AVOID OBVIOUS PASSWORDS. Avoid easy-to-find names and numbers like your birthday and phone number. |
| | STORE PERSONAL INFO IN A SAFE PLACE at home and at work. |
| | DON'T GIVE CREDIT CARD NUMBERS TO STRANGERS. Confirm whether a person represents a company by calling the phone number on your account statement or in the telephone book. |
| | WATCH OUT FOR "SHOULDER SURFERS". Use your free hand to shield the keypad when using pay phones and ATMs. |
| | BEWARE OF BLANK SPACES. Draw a line through blank spaces on credit slips. Never sign a blank slip. |
| | KEEP YOUR RECEIPTS. Ask for carbons and incorrect charge slips as well. |
| | DESTROY DOCUMENTS WITH ACCOUNT INFO. Stop thieves from finding information in the trash by tearing up or shredding receipts, credit offers, account statements, expired cards, etc. |
| | PROTECT YOUR MAIL. Ask your local U.S. Postal Service to put your mail on hold when you are traveling and can't pick it up. |
| | MAKE LIFE DIFFICULT FOR HACKERS. Install firewalls and virus-detection software on your home computers. If you have a high-speed Internet connection, unplug the computer's cable or phone line when you aren't using it. |
| | KEEP A RECORD OF CARDS AND ACCOUNTS. List numbers, expiration dates and contact information in case there is a problem. |
| | PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR BILLING CYCLE. A missing bill could mean a thief has taken over your account. |
| | PROMPTLY COMPARE RECEIPTS WITH ACCOUNT STATEMENTS. Watch for unauthorized transactions. Shred receipts after verifying the charge on your monthly statement. |
| | CHECK CREDIT REPORTS ONCE A YEAR. Check it more frequently if you suspect someone has gotten access to your account information. |
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Also, don't carry your Social Security Card in your wallet. If it gets stolen, you're in a heap of trouble.
Comment by: buccicone.2
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