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Important News
August 2006
A few steps can keep your identity safe
It is the hottest topic in the news media. Identity theft is a problem that is not going away anytime soon. Last year, 635,000 consumers filed complaints of identity theft at a total of $547 million in losses.
“Identity theft is difficult to prevent, but there are several ways to protect your good name,” said John Griffin of Griffin-Owens & Associates.
The Federal Trade Commission offers these tips to help from becoming a victim.
- Always sign the back of your credit cards.
- Keep a record of all your account numbers, company names, expiration dates and toll free numbers in a location separate from your cards in case they become stolen.
- Watch your card when transactions occur.
- Check your statements with receipts to make sure the charges are correct.
- Notify all card companies of address changes.
- Participate in the annual free credit report program to verify all transactions on your credit report.
Make sure to avoid:
- Letting others borrow your credit cards
- Leaving cards out for others to see the numbers
- Giving your account number out on the phone or internet unless you are certain you are talking to a trustworthy company.
Another way to protect yourself is to consider an identity theft coverage and restoration service.
“Identity theft insurance and restoration service can act as an affordable safety net in the event your identity is compromised in spite of precautionary measures,” Griffen added. “The peace-of-mind afforded with this type of coverage and service costs just pennies a day.”
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