Identity Theft and Privacy !
DATELINE: ~ Protecting your privacy and guarding against identity theft should be a paramount concern in today's Digital Age ! Mr. Wolfstone offers the following "Bertlitz Course" in combatting these invasions and crimes.
The Berlitz Course
Identity theft is a growing problem, and the ready availability of digital information about any individual enables the evildoer to acquire your full name, address, date of birth, social security number and bank balances in a matter of minutes.
Obviously, you should never give any personal information to a telephone caller or to a person who contacts you on the internet. Your personal financial information probably already exists in bank and mortgage company files; on credit reports; and in doctor's records -- so you should ask your banker or mortgage company or doctor's office to explain their encryption and privacy policy in written form. Many financial institutions have Privacy Policy statements in written brochures, and you should request and review these policy statements.
Be suspicious of people who call on the telephone or contact you via email and who ask for personal information. A clever evildoer who calls you or who emails you will frequently claim to be a police officer or a banking officer or a fraud investigator. Take the initiative to call the police or the bank to verify the inquiry.
Just because an email message bears the logo of Ebay or PayPal is no guarantee of legitimacy. Forward suspicious emails (which purport to have been sent from Ebay or from PayPal) to "spoof@ebay.com." Ebay will reply immediately and confirm whether the sender of the email was bona fide or fraudulent.
Never give out your Xerox machine account number or serial number to a caller who claims to be a Xerox representative.
Many fraud artists have installed generic ATM machines at or near retail locations. Slide your card into the generic ATM machine and enter your pin number. The fraud artist will thereby acquire your account and account access information. A few days later, you will be notified by your bank that you are a victim of identity theft and that your account has been exhausted!
Reduce the amount of marketing material and credit card applications you receive by contacting the Direct Market Association (who may charge a fee for this service) at:
Mail Preference Service
Direct Marketing Association
P.O. Box 282
Carmel, NY 10512
If Your Identity Is Stolen
First, call your attorney. Second, call and write each one of the three major credit reporting companies, and ask the credit companies to place a fraud report on your file:
Experian ... 888-397-3742
Equifax ... 800-525-6285
TransUnion ... 800-680-7289
You should ask whether any new credit accounts or new credit cards have been opened in your name without your consent or whether any unauthorized charges have been billed to your existing accounts. Request a copy of your credit report.
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