Account Information

Don’t give your credit or debit card numbers unless you’re making a purchase with that account. If someone contacts you claiming to be from a business that already has your account number but is requesting it again, be suspicious. Contact the company directly to ask why it is needed. If you are considering doing business with an unfamiliar company, check the complaint records with your state and local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau.

ATM, Credit, and Debit Cards

Don’t leave them lying around your home or office. Carry only those that you plan to use. If there are accounts you don’t use anymore, close them and cut the cards up. Debit cards that require PIN numbers are safer than those that can also be used with a signature. Memorize your PIN numbers – don’t write them down where someone may find them. Carry your cards in a separate holder from your wallet so you won’t lose them if your wallet is lost or stolen. Don’t lend to them to people; even your friends or relatives may not be as responsible as you think.

Bills, Bank Statements, and Other Records

Don’t leave bills, statements, and other personal records around in plain site. Keep important documents in a locked file cabinet. Shred information you don’t need to keep.

Calling Cards

Calling cards that require a PIN number offer an extra measure of protection. When you’re using them at a payphone, block the keypad so that no one else can see the numbers that you are dialing. If you’re giving the numbers to an operator, speak softly so others nearby won’t hear.

Credit Reports

Check your credit reports once a year to make sure there are no accounts on it that you never opened. Some states require credit bureaus to provide consumers with one free report annually; otherwise, there will be a small fee. Follow the instructions for disputing accounts you don’t recognize or other problems you may spot.

Mail

Remove incoming mail from your mailbox promptly. Send bill payments from the post office or public mailbox, not from home. If you are going to be away, ask the post office to hold your mail.

Online Payments

Look for clues about security when providing account numbers online. At the point where you are asked to provide your financial account information, social security number, or other sensitive personal data on a Web site, the letters at the beginning of the address bar at the top of the screen should change from “http” to either “https” or “shttp.” Your browser may also show that your information is being encrypted, or scrambled, as it’s sent so no one who might intercept it could read it. Look for a symbol at the bottom of your computer screen such as a broken key that becomes whole or a lock that closes. Don’t provide sensitive information by email, as it is generally not secure. While your information may be safe in transmission, that doesn’t guarantee that the company will securely store it. See what the Web site says about how your information is safeguarded. Card issuers may offer substitute numbers, a password to verify it’s you using the account, or other measures to increase security.

Passwords

Don’t give your passwords to anyone. Memorize them – don’t write them down where others may find them. If someone claiming to be from a company with whom you have a password asks to verify it, be suspicious. Contact the company directly to ask why it is needed.

Personal Information

When you do business with companies, look for information about their privacy policies. Tell them if you don’t want your personal information shared with other companies. Don’t provide information on order forms, warranty forms, and registration forms that isn’t necessary to complete the transaction. Be suspicious of anyone who calls or sends you an email requesting personal information to “verify” who you are so they can give you a prize or lottery winnings.

·        Pre-approved Credit Card Offers

If you don’t use credit offers that you receive, dispose of them by shredding. You can avoid getting these offers in the mail by calling a toll-free number operated by the major credit bureaus, 888-567-8688. Your social security number will be requested to identify you. Getting off these marketing lists will not affect your ability to apply for credit.

Social Security Number

Don’t give out your social security number unless it is needed to apply for credit, open a bank account, go to work for someone, or for some other legitimate purpose. Never have it printed or write it yourself on checks. Ask for an alternate number to identify you on your driver’s license, insurance card, and other materials.

Wallets and Pocketbooks

Don’t tempt crooks by leaving your wallet or purse in plain site at work. Don’t leave your wallet loose in your back pocket or your purse hanging from a chair at a restaurant or another public place. Use purses that close securely.

Work

Make sure your employer locks and limits access to personnel records. For your personal safety and the safety of your personal information, your employer should provide proper security and prevent strangers from wandering around the workplace.  

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