Fraud Prevention

Identity theft occurs when someone steals your personal information and identification. They may open credit card accounts, apply for loans, rent apartments and purchase phone services - all in your name. In most cases, they request address changes so you never see the bills for their activity. These criminals spend your money so quickly that most victims never know what happened until they apply for a loan or receive a call from a debt collector. Clearing your name and the negative effects that identify theft leaves can be dreadful and extremely time consuming. It can take you months or even years to re-establish your credit.

Don't let this happen to you. Use these tips to help avoid becoming a victim of identity theft:

• Store your personal information in a safe place. Shred financial statements, bank checks, credit card offers, charge receipts and credit applications before throwing them away.
• Never divulge account numbers, social security numbers and credit card numbers over the phone or email unless you know the person or organization that you are dealing with.
• Deposit outgoing mail into a secure, official U.S. Postal Service collection box. Quickly remove incoming mail after it has been delivered.
• Monitor account information and billing statements. Become familiar with your billing cycles and review your monthly statements for authorized charges or withdrawals. Missing statements might mean that someone has filed a change of address notice to divert your mail to his or her address.

Obtain and review copies of your credit report on an annual basis. Order copies of your credit report yearly to review your file and make certain the information is accurate. You can obtain a copy of your credit report by contacting the three major credit bureaus:

What can I do if I become a victim of Identity Theft?

• File a police report and call the Federal Trade Commission's toll-free "Identity Theft Hotline" at 1-877-438-4338
• Notify the three credit bureau's fraud departments. Request that a "fraud alert" be placed in your file, as well as a victim's statement asking that creditors call you before opening any new accounts.

To report fraud: