Don't Lose Yourself This Holiday Season:
Protecting Against Identity Theft

By Tzivia A. Masliansky

The holiday season provides boundless opportunity for thieves, particularly those interested in the gift that keeps on giving: your stolen identity. This time of year, you will likely make more frequent—and larger—purchases in-store and online, generating more credit card receipts and putting your personal information at risk.

Although identity theft may feel like a remote threat, millions of people have their personal information stolen every year. The consequences of identity theft are severe, both financially and emotionally. Following these simple steps, however, can reduce your risk and help you detect identity theft early on.

1. Buy a cross-cutting document shredder to destroy pre-approved credit applications received in your name, as well as any other documents that might provide access to your private financial information. Don't forget to shred credit card receipts after you have checked them against your monthly statements. Many consumers are not aware that the three major credit bureaus—TransUnion, Equifax and Experian—frequently sell your name to various credit card companies. You can, however, write to the individual credit bureaus or call (888) 5OPTOUT to remove your name, for two years, from these mailing and telemarketing lists.
2. Do not throw away pay stubs, credit card statements, bank statements, health insurance documents or other items that contain your personal information unless you shred them first.
3. When using a debit card, be sure to protect your personal identification number (PIN) at ATMs and in checkout lines. For example, use your body to cover your hand as you enter your PIN to ensure no bystanders can gain access to your accounts.
4. Don't mail bills or other documents that contain personal data (such as financial forms or checks) from home. Instead, take them directly to a post office branch or an official USPS mailbox. Without much effort, a thief can actually change the payee on one of your personal checks with special chemicals that remove ink.
5. When you are expecting a new credit card in the mail, watch the calendar. If the card does not arrive within the time frame specified by the issuer, call immediately to confirm that it was mailed and find out if a fraudulent change of address has been filed.
6. Cancel all credit cards that you no longer need or have not used in the past six months.
7. Protect all of your accounts with passwords, choosing an uncommon word or phrase that a thief could not easily figure out.
8. If possible, order credit cards that include your picture.
9. Maintain a photocopy of the front and back of all credit cards in a safe place so that you can easily cancel the cards in the event your wallet is lost or stolen.
10. Empty your wallet of extra credit cards and anything that includes your social security number. Never carry documents with personal information—including your birth certificate, social security card and passport—unless absolutely necessary.
11. Do not provide your credit card account number over the Internet, unless it is encrypted on a secured site. After completing an online purchase, always check for a confirmation e-mail or other communication about your order from the merchant.
12. Memorize your social security number and passwords.
13. When a stranger contacts you at home or at work, never give out any personal information. If the caller claims to be a representative of a credit card company you use, call the number listed on the back of your card to confirm that the call is legitimate. Provide only information that you believe is absolutely necessary.
14. Keep your social security number private whenever possible and never include it on personal checks. If a business requests your social security number, insist on using an alternate means of identification. Although government agencies have the right to request your social security number, they must provide an accompanying privacy notice.
15. Do not put your telephone number on your checks.
16. At the office, keep your personal belongings locked up.
17. When schools, employers or medical offices—even your health insurance carrier—request your social security number, insist that they use an alternative means of identification.
18. Carefully monitor all bank and credit card statements monthly. Examine them for entries that you do not recognize and call the bank or credit card company to verify anything that is questionable.
19. Once a year, request a copy of your credit report listing all of your bank and financial accounts. Any unfamiliar items may indicate that someone has fraudulently created or used an account in your name. If you discover mistakes, immediately request a correction in writing and identify the problems directly on the credit report. You should then mail the letter and supporting materials to the appropriate credit reporting agency. Remember to purchase a return receipt to ensure proof of delivery.

Tzivia A. Masliansky is an Associate in the firm’s Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice group, where she represents clients in a broad range of commercial litigation matters. She is an experienced litigator in both state and federal courts, as well as in mediation and arbitration proceedings. Tzivia can be reached at 312.521.2794 or tmasliansky@muchshelist.com.

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