How to Prevent Your Identity From Being Stolen
Tuesday, July 19, 2005 -
* Do not carry important information around in your purse. For example, Social Security cards or numbers, birth certificates, passports.
* Do not leave purses or wallets in your vehicle. Humboldt County has high rates of auto break-ins.
* Be aware of phone-scam con artists. If someone calls to say you won the lottery and they just need your Social Security number or bank account number -- don't believe it. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
* Do not leave an unattended purse in the shopping cart. Oftentimes a snatcher will leave the purse but snag the wallet or checkbook and the owner is unaware of it until the checkout line.
* Be wary of e-mail attempts to get you to reveal your bank account number or personal information. In general, banks do not send out e-mails asking for your account information. If you are not sure, then call the phone number you know for your bank and ask them directly.
* Make copies of important cards you keep in your wallet. If you copy both sides of your credit cards and leave the copy at home in a safe place, in the event your wallet is stolen you will have the information you need to notify the various banks and credit card companies.
* Shred or tear up mail with your personal information. The garbage can is a great place for thieves to steal your identity without you ever knowing anything is missing. Pre-approved credit applications are of particular interest to garbage sifters.
* Get a copy of your credit report once a year. Make sure there is nothing on the report that is untrue and investigate the errors. Social Security also issues once-a-year reports of your wages -- make sure your W2 form and those figures match up.
* Don't display personal information in public. Refrain from putting too much personal information on photo developing envelopes -- instead, just leave your name and a work phone number. Outgoing mail attached to your mailbox can also be targeted. Drop bills or credit card correspondence at the post office or a secured drop-box location. If you can, in general opt for locked mail boxes.
Information provided by Suzie Owsley, public information officer for the Eureka Police Department.
Reprinted with the permission of the Times Standard and the Eureka Police Department
This page was last updated 07/20/2005
© City of Fortuna, 2005