Bills.com: 11 Ways To Prevent Identity Theft

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) February 2, 2009 -- Up to 9 million Americans experience identity theft every year, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Protect yourself with these tips from Bills.com:

1. Protect Social Security numbers. Do not carry Social Security (SS) numbers or cards. Many companies routinely ask for SS numbers as customer identifiers. Politely refuse to provide the number.

2. Keep driver's license numbers private. Thieves can use driver's license numbers as alternate identifiers, and they provide a way to access financial accounts. Keep your driver's license number safe.

3. Guard mail. If possible, have mail delivered to a locked mailbox. Drop mail in an official mailbox, rather than leaving it in an unlocked home mailbox for carrier pickup. Thieves steal outgoing mail to obtain account numbers.

4. Shred private information. Shred any paperwork or electronic media that contains private information. This includes bills, account statements and credit card offers, as well as medical information, tax information, etc.

5. Use caution online. Be sure a Web site uses security measures (indicated by the secure symbol in the lower right-hand corner of your screen and language about security measures, such as virus/hacker scans and secure transaction protections) before making online purchases. If in doubt, withhold credit card or other private information. Be concerned about even secure businesses

6. Be wary on the phone. Never give out private information in a phone call you did not initiate. The caller might be impersonating a trusted business. If in doubt, ask the caller to mail or e-mail information so you can make a purchase or contribution decision at your convenience.

7. Get smart about scams. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Be wary of offers to refinance your home or obtain a credit card with no SS number, no job or no credit. Never respond to e-mails touting huge international lottery prizes or a need for help transferring millions of dollars.

8. Pay attention to bills. If you miss a bill that you regularly receive, call the company immediately. One identity theft method is to complete a change of address form. Then the thief can use the bill as identification.

9. Consider online billing. Financial institutions are among the most secure online. Many people believe e-billing (receiving statements via e-mail) can prevent identity theft by eliminating the paper trail. Be sure the company is reliable and your e-mail address is secure.

10. Check your credit report. Check it at least once a year, preferably quarterly. Each individual is entitled to one free credit report annually. Visit the Web sites of the three major credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) or www.annualcreditreport.com

11. Watch children's credit. Identity thieves love to steal children's credit information. Parents should watch for unsolicited credit card offers, bank statements for an account the parent did not open and the like.

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