Protect your personal information to reduce the risk of identity theft. Here are some simple tips:
• When you go out, take only your identification, credit, and debit cards. Leave your Social Security card at home. Carry a copy of your Medicare card and black out all but the last four digits on the copy.
• Carry only credit cards that you use regularly. Cancel unused credit cards.
• Closely review all credit card statements each month to detect unusual activity or unauthorized charges.
• Before sharing personal information with trusted sources – a workplace, a business, your child's school, or a doctor's office - ask why they need it, how they will safeguard it, and the consequences of not sharing.
• Disclose your Social Security number only when absolutely necessary.
• Don’t give personal information over the phone.
• Shred old receipts, checks, credit offers, insurance forms, doctor and bank statements, expired charge cards, and similar documents. Diamond cut shredders work great.
• Destroy labels on prescription bottles before throwing them out.
• Do not share your health plan information with anyone who offers free health services or products.
• Use the post office or secured collection box for mailings. Promptly remove mail that arrives in your mailbox.
• If you suspect that your mail is being stolen or tampered with, contact your local post office or postal inspector.
• At home, lock financial documents and records in a safe place. At work, keep your wallet or purse with you or secure them in a safe place.
• Do not use your year of birth or other easily identifiable code as a password or PIN for credit cards or ATM machines. Do not allow others to closely view you as you enter your password or PIN during transactions.
• Be very cautious with personal information on the Internet. Use only trusted sites and encrypted pages for transactions.
Use this federal website to report identify theft and to create a recovery plan: www.identitytheft.gov