Protecting Your Identity While Online
Be aware of the following:
- Never give out your information to a person or a company that contacted you first.
- You never can be too cautious when protecting your personal information.
- Know who you are dealing with when shopping or divulging personal information online.
- If something sounds too good to be true it most likely is.
Signs that your identity has been stolen:
- Statements for your financial accounts stop arriving at the normal time without
prior notice from your financial institution.
- Bills start coming for things you did not buy, or charges show up on your credit
card statement for purchases you did not make.
What do you do if your identity is stolen?
Immediately file a police report and retain a copy. Then contact your creditors,
banks, credit bureau, local law enforcement agency and the Federal Trade Commission
by phone and in writing. Let them know that you have become the victim of identity
theft. Keep a record of all communication you make with these agencies, including
everything you send them, each person you talk to, and the date and time of all
communication. Request a copy of your credit report and review it carefully for
anything suspicious. Close all accounts that have been tampered with or opened
without your knowledge or consent.
Find out more information on identity theft by downloading the
Identity Theft Prevention
& Repair Kit