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Keeping your information safe requires vigilance

Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2005

Protecting one’s good name means more than it did in the past.

Stolen identities can result in poor credit ratings, mounds of paperwork and months of delays to straighten out records.

What you can do

*Annually review your credit report, which should list all bank and financial accounts under your name, and will provide other indications of whether someone has opened or used any accounts in your name.

Call one of the three major credit reporting agencies: Equifax (www.equifax.com): 800-685-1111; Experian (www.experian.com): 888-397-3742; or TransUnion (www.transunion.com): 800-888-4213. Or go online to www.annualcreditreport.com — which provides free credit reports annually from each of the reporting agencies under the federal Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act. AnnualCreditReport.com is operated by the three credit reporting agencies.

*Use a firewall and virus protection software to protect against computer hackers. Update the virus protection software frequently against new attacks and use only secure, encrypted Web sites for credit card transactions.

*Do not store credit card or bank account information on your computer.

*Do not open files or click on Web links sent by strangers.

*Beware of people asking for personal data when they do not need it. Identity thieves may pose as bank employees over the phone or by e-mail and ask for account information and other personal data that the bank already has.

*Beware of prize offers that require Social Security and credit card numbers.

*Report stolen mail immediately to police and postal officials.

*If a bank or credit card statement is mailed monthly and does not arrive, contact the bank or credit card issuer immediately.

*Examine financial information often for charges or transfers that should not be there.

What businesses can do

*Perform criminal background checks before hiring new employees.

*Keep financial records locked and limit access to the data.

*Do not keep any personal data of employees or customers that is not required.

*Shred documents instead of throwing them into the trash.

If you’re a victim of ID theft

*Notify the three credit reporting agencies and ask for a fraud alert for your credit file.

*Close any accounts that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. File an account fraud affidavit available at www.ftc.gov⁄bcp⁄conline⁄pubs⁄credit⁄affidavit.pdf.

*Notify police to obtain a report to submit to creditors.

*File a report with the FTC by calling 877-ID THEFT (877-438-4338) or write Consumer Response Center, FTC, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington DC 20580.