Helping Local Residents Prevent Identity Theft

Dalton Police detective Nathan Lee spoke to the Dalton Civitan Club this week about the dangers of identity theft.  As we begin a new year, now is a great time to secure and protect your identity.

As identity thieves continue to prey upon innocent victims, they also continue to find new ways to steal your money.  However, there are some steps you can take to avoid being a victim.

1.  Check your credit report - Knowing your credit history is the number one way to protect your identity. Checking your credit report periodically allows you to see if an identify thief has opened a new credit card account with a fake address and phone number.

2.  Don't give out your SSN - Only give out your Social Security number when it is required.  Just because a form has a space for your SSN doesn't mean you have to fill it in.

3.  Protect your computer - Always use a secure wireless connection, use an encrypted service, update your virus protection regularly, install an adequate firewall, and assume that any Email that asks for your personal information is fraud.

4.  Keep track of your billing cycles - Be sure to call if don't receive a regular credit bill in the mail.  Chances are, an identity thief has changed your address.

5.  Closely examine your financial statements - Go over your credit card statements to make sure you made the purchases listed.

6.  Guard your mail from theft - Make a practice of picking up your mail as soon as possible after it is delivered.  Consider investing in a locked mailbox or play it extra safe with a post office box.

7.  Invest in a shredder - Get into the habit of shredding all documents before throwing them in the garbage.

8.  Practice safe online shopping - Shop only from secure sites that will encrypt your order information and credit card number.

9.  Avoid sketchy ATMs - Be skeptical of portable machines you see in convenience stores and hotel lobbies, especially if they have a cord protruding from the back that's not plugged in. 

10. Be suspicious of unexpected calls or letters - Be wary of when a business calls or Emails you and asks for personal information.  Make it a policy not to get personal unless you're the one who initiated the contact.

11. Put real passwords on your accounts - Create one password that you can use in multiple applications that no one else well know.  A strong password is a random eight-character combination of numbers, letters and symbols.

12. Keep your credit card close to you - When you're out spending money, watch how salespeople and waiters handle your cards and make sure they don't have a chance to copy them.

13. Use safe checks and use them sparingly - Always get your checks from your bank.  These checks are far more likely to contain fraud protection features like a watermark, thermochromatic ink, chemically reactive paper, and light-sensitive ink and fibers.

14. Secure your home - Find a non-obvious location in your home where you can store your Social Security card, passport and all records that contain personal information.

15. Carry only what you need - Leave your Social Security card at home in a secure place.  Carry only credit cards you plan to use.

16. Spring clean your credit cards - Cancel credit cards you don't use regularly. The more cards you have, the more opportunities a thief has to steal from you.

17. Opt out - Get your name off of marketing lists that get sold and resold.

18. Read privacy policies - They are essential for understanding what your bank, financial institutes and other businesses that you deal with do with you information.

19. Protect a deceased relative - When someone dies, contact the credit bureaus and have the "deceased" alert put on the person's reports.  Inform Social Security of the death yourself, with a copy of the death certificate.

20. Place fraud alerts on your credit reports - Putting a fraud alert tag on your credit report will limit a thief's ability to open accounts in your name.

Detective Nathan Lee giving tips to protect your identity

Members of the Civitan Club learning about idenitity theft