Everyone is vulnerable to identity theft.  However, you can do some things to protect yourself from identity theft.

• Do not sign  the back of your credit cards. Instead, put “PHOTO ID REQUIRED“.

• When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts,  DO  NOT put the complete  account number on the ‘For’ line.  Instead, just put the  last four numbers of your credit card number.   The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won’t have access to it.

• Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home phone.

• If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home address. If you do no t have a PO Box, use your work address.

• Never  have your  SS# printed on your checks.   You can add it if it is necessary. But if you have It printed, anyone can get it.

• Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc.. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel.  Keep the photocopy in a safe place.

• If you have a passport.  Make a photocopy of your passport.

If you lose your wallet or if is stolen, take the following safety steps:

• Cancel your credit cards immediately. Therefore,  have the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call.  Keep those where you can find them.

• File a  police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., were lost or stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).

• Call  the  3 national credit reporting organizations  immediately to place a fraud alert on your name.

Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
Trans Union : 1-800-680 7289

• Call the Social Security fraud line number.

Social Security Administration (fraud line):  1-800-269-0271

By following these simple steps you can stop identity theft in its tracks.