Identity thieves have more access than ever to your personal information. They will go through garbage not only from your home, but from local businesses or the dump. They pretend to work for important companies such as your doctor’s office, medical insurance company, or the government and call or e-mail you to retrieve your personal information.
- Order Your Free Credit Reports
- You are entitled to receive 3 free credit reports a year; 1 from each of the credit reporting companies.
- Do not request them all at once. It is beneficial if you open one every four months to keep yourself up to date on what is being reported about you.
- Use annualcreditreport.com to access all 3 credit reporting companies in one place.
- Do Not Share Personal Information
- Avoid pretext callers who pretend to be someone else to gain information from you.
- Unless you initiate a phone call, e-mail, or web submission; do not give out your information.
- 1st Ed Credit Union will not call or e-mail you to ask for your personal information.
- Keep Personal Items in a Safe Place
- Store Social Security Cards, Birth Certificates, and other important paperwork in a lock-box keeping it safe from thieves and in case of a natural disaster.
- Statements, bills, and credit card offers should be shred or stored safely to ensure your account numbers cannot be stolen from the paperwork.
- Participate in community shred events to safely shred documents that you no longer need.