Check statements.
Always review your monthly banking, brokerage, and credit-card statements as soon as they arrive for accuracy. Report problems immediately.
Review reports.
Order copies of your credit reports annually from each of the three major credit-reporting agencies—Equifax (www.equifax.com), Experian (www.experian.com), and TransUnion (www.transunion.com). Report errors promptly by following each site’s instructions.
Stay guarded.
Avoid disclosing your Social Security number, birth date, or mothers maiden name unless you initiated the transaction. Don’t include such data on paper documents unless required to do so for employment, financing, or insurance. Ask employers, schools, and financial institutions to offer alternatives.
Just say no.
Opt out of information-sharing arrangements at financial institutions. To find out how, check each institution’s privacy notice, which is mailed annually and usually posted on company sites.
Say no, again.
Opt out of pre-approved credit offers by calling the Credit Reporting Industry Pre-Screening Opt-Out Number at 888-567-8688.
Shred and destroy.
Before throwing out files with your Social Security number, account information, address, and birth dates, be sure to shred them with a cross-cut shredder. Use hard-drive erasing software or, better, remove and destroy your hard drive before giving away or discarding an old computer. Just deleting files isn’t enough.
Guard mail.
Consider using a locked mailbox or slot to receive mail at home. Deposit mail in postal mailboxes or at the post office to discourage mail theft.
Avoid odd ATMs.
Steer clear of private or strange-looking automated teller machines. They may be rigged to skim data off your card’s magnetic strip.
Eye the sites.
Deal only with reputable shopping and financial sites. Check privacy and security policies before making purchases, trading stocks, or banking online. Don’t respond to unsolicited e-mail requests—or phone calls—for personal information.
