Check Your Purse or Wallet

• Never leave your purse or wallet unattended – even for a minute.
• Protect your PINs (don’t carry them in your wallet!) and passwords; use a 10-digit combination of letters and numbers for your passwords, and change them periodically.
• Carry only personal identification and credit cards you actually need in your purse or wallet. If your I.D. or credit cards are lost or stolen, notify the creditors immediately, and ask the credit bureaus to place a “fraud alert” in your file.
• Keep a list of all your credit cards and bank accounts along with their account numbers, expiration dates and credit limits, as well as the telephone numbers of customer service and fraud departments. Store this list in a safe place.
• If your state uses your Social Security number as your driver’s license number, ask to substitute another number.

Manage Your Mailbox

• Do not leave bill payment envelopes clipped to your mailbox or inside with the flag up; criminals may steal your mail and change your address.
• Know your billing cycles, and watch for any missing mail. Follow up with creditors if bills or new cards do not arrive on time. An identity thief may have filed a change of address request in your name with the creditor or the post office.
• Carefully review your monthly accounts, credit card statements and utility bills (including cellular telephone bills) for unauthorized charges as soon as you receive them. If you suspect unauthorized use, contact the provider’s customer service and fraud departments immediately.
• When you order new checks, ask when you can expect delivery. If your mailbox is not secure, then ask to pick up the checks instead of having them delivered to your home.
• Although many consumers appreciate the convenience and customer service of general direct mail, some prefer not to receive offers of pre-approved financing or credit. To “opt out” of receiving such offers, call (888) 5 OPT OUT sponsored by the three credit bureaus.
• The Direct Marketing Association offers services to help reduce the number of mail and telephone solicitations. To join their mail preference service, mail your name, home address and signature to:

Mail Preference Service
Direct Marketing Association
P. O. Box 9008
Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008

Bank, Shop and Spend Wisely

• Store personal information in a safe place and shred or tear up documents you don’t need.
• Destroy charge receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance forms, bank checks and statements, expired charge cards and credit offers you get in the mail before you put them out in the trash.
• Cancel your unused credit cards so that their account numbers will not appear on your credit report.
• When you fill out a loan or credit application, be sure that the business either shreds these applications or stores them in locked files.
• Tear up shopping receipts, bank statements and unused pre-approved credit card offers and convenience checks before throwing them away.
• When possible, watch your credit card as the merchant completes the transaction.
• Use credit cards that have your photo and signature on the front.
• Sign your credit cards immediately upon receipt.