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Article #6: 13 Steps You Can Take To Prevent Identity Theft:

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The Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction number of credit and debit cards that you
Act, known commonly as FACTA, was put will actually use. Leave extra cards in a
into law in the United States to help to safe place at home, in a safety deposit
protect consumers from identity theft and box, or any other secured location.
to help in its prevention. FACTA ensures 6. Avoid giving out personal information
that all citizens are treated fairly when on the phone, through the mail, or on the
they apply for a mortgage or other form internet unless you are absolutely sure
of credit and it entitles them to a free you know and can trust with whom you are
annual credit report to verify its communicating. Caution: Before you share
accuracy. personal information, be sure you are
Becoming a major epidemic, Identity Theft dealing with a legitimate business or
occurs when a criminal uses another organization. (If you are unsure about an
person's personal information to take on online communication, check the
that person's identity. Identity theft organization's website by typing its URL
includes the misuse of a Social Security in the address line. Most large companies
number, credit cards, mail fraud, scam, post alerts on their sites when they are
schemes, frauds, or any other form of aware of a scam when their name is used
misuse or abuse of a victim's identity. improperly.)
There is no guarantee that you will never Identity thieves usually pose as
be a victim; however, there are steps you representatives of banks, lotteries,
can take to minimize your risk. Here is a sweepstakes, internet service providers,
list of 13 steps you can take to prevent or some other officially-sounding-entity.
or at least minimize its occurrence: They will use any means possible to try
1. Manage your personal information to get you to reveal your valuable
cautiously and with a new awareness that information.
identity theft can occur anytime anywhere 7. Call the Customer Service Department
and when you least expect it. of companies or organizations with whom
2. Ask about security procedures in your you do business using the number listed
workplace, doctor's office, or other on your account statement or in the
business or organization that routinely telephone book.
collects relevant and personal 8. Do not place passwords on your credit
identifying information as part of doing card, bank, or telephone accounts.
business or providing a service. Find out 9. When choosing a password, avoid using
who has access to your personal obvious information like your mother's
information and verify that it is handled maiden name, your birth date, a series of
securely. Inquire about their disposal consecutive numbers, or the last four
procedures and if your information will digits of your Social Security Number or
be shared with anyone else (namely third your phone number.
parties such as mailing list companies, 10. Pay attention to your billing cycles.
marketing and survey companies, etc.). A missing bill could mean an identity
3. Instead of giving your Social Security thief has gotten their hands on it.
Number, inquire if you can use other "9.9 million people were victims of
types of identification. Use your Social identity theft in 2002", according to the
Security Number with caution and only Federal Trade Commission. Don't wait
when absolutely necessary. until it happens to you.
"Your Chances of becoming victimized by 11. Be wary of promotional scams or phony
some form of identity theft is one in offers to get you to give them your
ten," according to the Federal Trade personal information such as lottery and
Commission. sweepstakes' that you have never entered
4. If you find that you have been and ones asking for an "administration"
victimized, immediately file a complaint fee.
with the Federal Trade Commission. The 12. If your job requires you to suit up
FTC maintains a database of identity in special clothing at work, never leave
theft cases used by law enforcement your purse or wallet in your personal
agencies for investigations. Filing a clothes. Always keep them in a safe and
complaint helps the FTC learn more about secured place.
identity theft and the problems victims 13. When reordering checks, pick them up
are having. This knowledge helps them to at the bank instead of having them sent
assist you better. to your mailbox.
5. Carry only the identification and the






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