Financial Safety
Below are a few financial crime safety tips:
- Never carry your social security card, birth certificate or passport unless absolutely necessary.
- Do not put your address, telephone number, or drivers license number on a credit card receipt.
- Identifying information should not be given over the telephone or Internet to someone you do not know.
- Shred all personal documents before placing them in the trash.
- Carefully review credit card and bank statements for unauthorized activity.
- Do not carry credit cards with you unless you intend on using them.
- Never leave your purse or wallet in an unlocked car.
- Keep all financial records in a secure place.
- Do no use your social security number for any membership identification.
- Shred/destroy any unused checks from an old account.
- Do not "update" personal account information as requested via computer/e-mail.
- Before disclosing any personal information, make sure you know why it is required and how it will be used.
- Guard your mail from theft. Promptly remove your incoming mail from your mailbox and put out going mail in post office collection boxes.
- Get a copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies. (Equifax, Trans Union, and Experian). For a free credit report, you can log on to AnnualCreditReport.com. You can also request a copy by calling 1-877-322-8228 or completing the Annual Credit Report Request Form at FTC.gov and mailing the form to Annual Credit Report Request Service.