William Penn Life, 2003 (38. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2003-06-01 / 6. szám
Moneywi$e Self-secu rity How to protect your finances & good name from identity thieves The following information is excerpted from "ID Theft: When Bad Things Happen to Your Good Name," published by the Federal Trade Commission. I n the course of a busy day, you may write a check at the grocery store, charge tickets to a ball game, rent a car, mail your tax returns, call home on your cell phone, order new checks or apply for a credit card. Chances are you don't give these everyday transactions a second thought. But someone else may. The 1990's spawned a new variety of crooks called identity thieves. Their stock in trade is your everyday transaction. Each transaction requires you to share personal information: your bank and credit card account numbers; your income; your Social Security number (SSN); or your name, address and phone numbers. An identity thief co-opts some piece of your personal information and appropriates it without your knowledge to commit fraud or theft. An all-too-common example is when an identity thief uses your personal information to open a credit card account in your name. Identity theft is a serious crime. People whose identities have been stolen can spend months or years— and thousands of dollars—cleaning up the mess the thieves have made of their good name and credit record. In the meantime, victims may lose job opportunities, be refused loans or even be arrested for crimes they didn't commit. Humiliation, anger and frustration are common feelings victims experience as they navigate the arduous process of reclaiming their identity. How identity theft occurs Despite your best efforts to manage the flow of your personal information or to keep it to yourself, skilled identity thieves may use a variety of methods—low- and hi-tech—to gain access to your data. Here are some of the ways imposters can get your personal information and take over your identity. • They steal wallets and purses containing your identification and credit and bank cards. • They steal your mail, including your bank and credit card statements, pre-approved credit offers, telephone calling cards and tax information. • They complete a " change of address form" to divert your mail to another location. • They rummage through your trash, or the trash of businesses, for personal data in a practice known as "dumpster diving." • They fraudulently obtain your credit report by posing as a landlord, employer or someone else who may have a legitimate need for—and a legal right to— the information. • They get your business or personnel records at work. • They find personal information in your home. • They use personal information you share on the Internet. • They buy your personal information from "inside" sources. For example, an identity thief may pay a store employee for information about you that appears on an application for goods, services or credit. Minimizing your risk While you probably can't prevent identity theft entirely, you can minimize your risk. By managing your personal information wisely, cautiously and with an awareness of the issue, you can help guard against identify theft. What You Can Do Today Order a copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies. (See Money Links on next page.) Make sure it is accurate and includes only those activities you've authorized. The law allows credit bureaus to charge you up to $9.00 for a copy of your credit report. Place passwords on your credit card, bank and phone accounts. Avoid using easily available information like your mother's maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your 4 Willian Pen Life, June 2003
