If
an employee with access to sensitive personal information
decides to steal yours, there's nothing you can do to prevent
it. However, some simple
steps can help protect your identity from opportunists
and criminals who don't have inside access.
Take control of your personal information. You
don't have to get junk mail or telemarketing calls -- opt
out. Annual privacy notices allow consumers the opportunity
to eliminate information sharing. To make certain your name
is not shared, mail this privacy
"opt out" form letter to your creditors and
banking institutions.
Monitor your credit accounts carefully, so you'll
know if a bill's missing or unauthorized purchases have been
made. Close
out unused credit cards. Cutting them up is not enough.
Also, stay on top of your bank accounts, reconciling your
checkbook monthly.
You may want to consider putting a fraud
alert on your credit files. With a fraud alert, a credit bureau
is supposed to contact you before any new credit can be approved.
Unfortunately, fraud alerts are not foolproof.
Again, vigilance counts!
--
Compiled by Dani
M. Arthur,
illustrations by Brandy Kesl
