Excellent Information

• March 8th, 2008
• View Comments (3)

This is excellent advice whether you’re in Mary Kay or not. A couple years ago there was a computer stolen from my employer and these types of guidelines were communicated to all who were potentially affected. Fortunately, the stolen laptop was recovered, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry:

Published 03.04.08

Avoiding Identity Theft

Did you know that the Federal Trade Commission estimates that as many as nine million Americans have their identities stolen each year? Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information, like your name, Social Security number or credit card number, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes.

Identity thieves use a variety of methods to steal personal information, such as:

• Rummaging through trash looking for bills or other paper with personal information on it.
• Stealing credit/debit card numbers by using a special storage device when processing your card.
• Pretending to be a financial institution or company and sending email spam or pop-up messages to get you to reveal your personal information.
• Diverting your billing statements to another location by completing a “change of address” form.
• Stealing wallets and purses; mail, including bank, credit card statements, pre-approved credit offers, new checks or tax information.

There are several things you can do to avoid becoming a victim of identity theft. These suggestions, which are outlined on the Federal Trade Commission Web site (www.ftc.gov/idtheft), can help deter identity thieves and offer you a little peace of mind!

• Shred financial documents and paperwork with personal information before you discard them.
• Protect your Social Security number. Don’t carry your Social Security card in your wallet or write your Social Security number on a check.
• Don’t give out personal information on the phone, through the mail or over the Internet unless you know the person or business you are dealing with. If you receive a phone call from someone stating that they are associated with a particular company and they are requesting personal information such as your credit card number, bank account information or social security number, consider making note of the caller’s first and last name, along with the name of the department within the company he or she works for. Then, you can inform the caller that you would prefer to end the call and attempt to contact the individual in question directly using a phone number you know is valid for that company.
• Never click on links sent in unsolicited emails. Use firewalls, anti-spyware and anti-virus software to protect your computer.
• Don’t use an obvious password like your birth date, mother’s maiden name or Social Security number digits.
• Keep your personal information in a secure place at home, especially if you employ outside help.

For more information, please log on to the Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft Web site address provided above.