How to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft

Perhaps you’ve gotten the phone call from your credit card company: someone in Japan is trying to purchase a truck with your card and they want to know if it’s you before they approve it. Or maybe you just got the letter saying that your information was compromised and they’re sending you a new card. You might even be one of the many unlucky people who discovered that your identity had been stolen when you tried to use your available credit and found it gone because you had apparently bought a thousand knock-off Louis Vuitton purses without your knowledge. In this day and age, just about everyone has a story wherein they were the victim of identity theft (for most of us, there’s more than one). If you have been lucky enough to avoid this form of fraud, don’t get too complacent. It could be just around the corner. Luckily, there are a few ways you can protect yourself from identity theft.

1. Shop securely, or not at all. When you shop online, simply look for the padlock icon on the page where you enter secure information. If it’s there, you know they are encrypting the information and protecting it from would-be thieves. And when you’re in a brick-and-mortar store, look at the copy of the receipt you’re signing. Most retailers block out the majority of your card number with Xs, but if you see your whole number on the slip that you return to the sales-clerk, scribble out all but the last four digits.
2. Shred receipts and mail. Rather than tossing papers in the trash unchecked, take the time to look for sensitive information and shred those documents that contain it. You’d be surprised how much identity theft occurs because you throw away a bill that has your credit card number plus name and address right on it.
3. Use multiple passwords (and make them good!). When using a website that requires personal information, create a password that will be hard to hack. If it’s case-sensitive, use uppercase and lowercase letters as well as numbers (and symbols, if possible), with a minimum of eight characters.
4. Don’t give information to solicitors (even if they sound legit). Don’t ever give information via phone or email! If you think a call might be legitimate, simply hang up and call your credit company to confirm. This verification process could save you from a lot of scams.
5. Ask your creditors to call on suspicious activity. If you let your creditors know when you’ll be out of town or making unusual purchases, you can avoid getting caught waiting for a call on your own acquisitions.
6. Require ID. In the space provided on the back of your card for a signature, write “Ask for ID” instead of signing. At some point, a vendor will do just that and hopefully realize the card has been stolen.
7. Forego credit completely. If you’re really worried about identity theft, there is a surefire way to avoid it: cut up your cards (and guard your personal information securely). Of course, this won’t stop someone who gets ahold of your SS# from starting new cards in your name, but it will relieve you of any possible responsibility for paying.

Sarah Danielson writes for Coin Collecting where you can find information on vintage and rare coins and chat with other members via the online forum.