The Federal Trade Commission says more than 9 million Americans have their credit identities stolen each year, and 37 percent of victims discover this problem by looking at their credit reports.
Everyone has either experienced ID theft or knows someone who has. It can result from the new, high-tech methods (war-driving, phishing, spear-phishing, pretexting, spoofing, etc.) but mostly occurs through the standard, older techniques.
The Insurance Information Institute and the Federal Trade Commission point to the older techniques used by identity thieves and suggest ways to defeat them:
One card: Reduce the number of cards you carry in your purse or wallet. Carry only one credit card — not every one you own — and not your passport, not your Social Security card, not your birth certificate, etc. Guard your credit or debit cards when shopping by shielding them with your hand or body at the ATMs, pay phones and debit card terminals.
Sensitive documents: Grab those credit, debit card or ATM receipts. Don’t put them in the trash, on ATM counters or in shopping bags they could disappear from. Tear up or shred documents with credit card numbers, banking numbers, charge-card receipts or credit card applications before disposal. Dumpster-diving is still a top tactic.
Online: Let’s be careful online. Ensure you’re buying from a reputable retailer with a secure network. See National Cyber Security Alliance info at tulsaworld.com/uscert for warnings on cyber attacks across the nation.
Phishing: It’s becoming more common but you’ll be immune as long as you remember: Your bank or credit union doesn’t contact customers by e-mail to ask for account numbers, routing numbers or Social Security numbers. Don’t reveal personal information unless you’ve initiated the contact and know who you’re dealing with.
Monitor accounts: Don’t rely on credit card companies or banks to…