Identity theft is the country's fastest-growing financial crime. The Federal Trade Commission estimates that 27.3 million Americans have been victims of identity theft in the past 5 years, including 9.9 million people last year alone. Some ways to prevent becoming a victim could include avoid using credit cards or debit cards, stop filling out more credit applications, and cancel all of your credit cards. But the fact is that most exposure to identity theft is beyond your control, because there is still enough information about you and your finances floating around out there for identity thieves to put their hands on. Here are some tips to reduce your exposure and prevent identity theft: at https://inoue19thgene.wordpress.com/2017/02/10/10-tips-to-reduce-your-exposure-and-prevent-identity-theft/

1. 10 Tips To Reduce Your Exposure And
Prevent Identity Theft
Identitytheftisthe country'sfastest-growingfinancial crime.The Federal Trade Commissionestimates
that 27.3 millionAmericanshave beenvictimsof identitytheftinthe past5 years, including9.9million
people lastyearalone.Some waystopreventbecomingavictimcouldinclude avoidusingcreditcards
or debitcards,stop fillingoutmore creditapplications,andcancel all of yourcreditcards. But the fact is
that mostexposure toidentitytheftisbeyondyourcontrol,because thereisstill enoughinformation
aboutyou and yourfinancesfloatingaroundoutthere foridentitythievestoputtheirhandson.Here
are some tipsto reduce yourexposure andpreventidentitytheft:
1 - Make It As DifficultAsPossible ForThe Thief.
Most Identitythievesaren'tdedicated,butopportunisticcreatures.If theycome acrossany difficultyin
gettingyourinformation,theywill moveontothe nextpotential victim.Keepyourdocumentsunder
lockand key.Don't make iteasyfor a repairmanor a guestin yourhouse to walkoff withyour
checkbookorsome of yourimportantfiles.Don'tfool yourself,youdon'thave tobe rich or have a high
creditscore to have your identitystolen.Some identitythievessaythatmiddle-classfolksmake the best
targets,because theypaylessattentiontotheirfinancesthanwealthyindividuals.
2- Monitor Your CreditReportConstantly.
The firsthintthat you mighthave become avictimisa suspiciousentryonyourcreditreport.Experts
recommendthatyoureviewyourcreditreporttwice ayear or more.
3 - Buya PaperShredder.
Papersand documentsthatinclude personalfinancial informationoryoursocial securitynumbermust
be shreddedbefore issentto the trash.
4 - AskAboutBusinessShreddingPolicies.

2. Whenrequiredtogive personal financial information,askif the businesshasashreddingpolicyinplace.
Financial institutions,tax preparers,andcompanieswithmedical informationshouldall be able toshred
copiesof yourdocumentsor have youcome and pickthemup, so youcan do it yourself.
5 - Don't Give OutYour Social SecurityNumber.
OnlyEmployers,IRS,DMV,Social SecurityAdministrationandcertainFinancialInstitutionsandInsurers
that use yourSSN to run creditchecksto determineyourpremiumsshouldbe allowedtohave thisnine-
digitnumber.WhenaskedforyourSSN as proof that you are who yousay youare, give themonlythe
lastfour digits.
6 - ProtectYour IncomingandOutgoingMail.
Get a LockingMailbox.Many identitythievessimplyfollowthe mail manaroundandgrab what theycan
fromunprotectedmailboxes.Considerusingthe nearestpostoffice tosendall yourmail,ratherthan
leavingitoutwhere anyone cantake it.Or signupfor a secure online bill-payingservice.
7 - AlwaysKeepanEye onYour DebitCard.
Justlike a creditcard, yourATM card can be usedwithoutpunchinginapersonal identificationnumber.
The banks won'tholdyouresponsibleforfraudusing VISA orMasterCard logocards buta thief can
quicklyemptyyourbankaccountand couldbe daysuntil the bankcan restore the stolencash.Use a
creditcard whenpayinga restaurantbill oranywhere youwon'tbe able to monitorthe actual
transaction.
8 - Be Wary of Phone SolicitorsandE-mails.
Don't give outsensitive informationbyphone oremail torequestspurportingtobe fromfinancial
institutions,unlessyouinitiatedcontactor reallythrustthe institution.Criminalsare usingatechnique
called"phishing,"whichusesanemail claimingtobe fromyourBank and that redirectsyoutoa look-

3. alike websitewhereyouare askedtoinputyour accountnumbers.Whencontactedthisway,do not
replytothe email andonlycall the Bank's 1-800 numberfrom your statementforcommunication.
9 - MonitorYour Social SecurityStatements.
Make sure youare beingcreditedforall the taxesyouhave paidintothe system.Missingearningsor
earningsthatare not yourscan be an indicationof fraud.Call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 if there are any
discrepancies.
10 - Carry Onlythe NecessaryinYourWallet.
Do not carry your Social SecurityNumberinyourwalletandonlyafew creditanddebitcardsshouldbe
init. Incase youhave your walletstolen,grabyour cell or the nearestphone immediatelyandcall to
cancel your mostimportantcreditcards suchas 1-800-VISA911 and 1-800-MASTERCARD. Also,make a
photocopyof all your cards andyour driver'slicense.Thiswill make iteasiertoreportthe theftsandget
themreplaced.
Resource
Partial HospitalizationProgram | Exposure and Response Prevention