The holiday season is prime time for identity theft. It’s no wonder: the mix of frenzied shopping, demanding kids, wall-to-wall crowds and a tidal wave of consumer marketing via phone, mail and the Internet create just the right environment of distraction and confusion for identity thieves. These crooks are just waiting for you to let your guard down, giving them the chance to take over your identity, steal your money and ruin your credit–causing costly damage to your quality of life in the process. Here’s what you need to do to help ensure that their schemes are thwarted:
1. Monitor and control your mail. Identity thieves count on doing their damage long before you notice that anything is awry. Open and review all incoming mail, especially bills and credit card offers, the day you receive it. This way you can catch any signs that your identity has been stolen or abused, such as credit-card purchases you don’t recall or bills for things you did not order, as soon as possible. You’ll also be tipped off when mail you are supposed to receive, including bills and credit card statements, arrive later than normal, or don’t arrive at all. Shred whatever you decide to toss before you discard it, especially if it contains credit application forms or personal information such as your bank account or social security numbers. (Every home should have at least one shredder; available for as little as $25 or less each, it is a very inexpensive insurance policy against identity theft, which can easily cost you a thousand times that price.) What ever you decide to keep, file away out of plain sight. Do not leave outgoing mail in your mailbox for the postal delivery person to pick up–would be identity thieves could steal it (or just copy information from it and put it back in your mailbox) before it is picked up by the postal service. Take outgoing mail directly to the post office. If you decide to drop it in a mailbox, make sure the box is not so stuffed that a thief could not reach in and grab whatever is near the top.
2. Write your checks out with “fraud-proof” pens. These are pens that are wash-proof, meaning that thieves who steal your checks won’t be able to wash off the ink and rewrite the check against your account. You should be able to get these pens at any major office supply store.
3. Watch out for “shoulder surfers.” These are people who stand behind you or near you, peeking over your shoulder to steal credit card numbers and other information. Department stores, malls and ATM locations crowded with shoppers are the equivalent of Disney World to identity thieves and pick pockets alike. Do I have to tell you to keep your purse, wallet and shopping bags closed (buckled, zipped, snapped), secured and close to you at all times? Remain aware and guard your personal space–don’t be afraid to tell people “Happy holidays–now back up off me!”
4. Watch your credit and debit cards like a hawk. Protect yourself from “credit card skimming”, which is when a clerk slides your credit card through a second machine (other than the one being used to process payment for your purchases) that scans your information from the card’s magnetic strip and stores it until it can be downloaded onto a counterfeit card. Whenever possible, shop at stores that allow you to swipe your
own card, so that it never leaves your hands. If that is not an option, keep your eyes on your card from the time you let it go until the time it is returned to you. When making any transaction, whether at an ATM or with a sales clerk, do not be distracted by anything until the transaction is complete. Many experts even recommend getting a relative or hiring a sitter to watch your kids while you are holiday shopping, so that you can keep your undivided attention on handling your business.5. Keep track of your credit card receipts. Federal law now requires that receipts conceal everything but the expiration date and last five digits of your credit card number. If your receipt shows more information than that, keep it concealed–put it in your wallet, not your shopping bag. Carbon copies (as well as the messy black or dark blue ink sheets) of your receipts should be destroyed.
6. Don’t carry your checkbook with you. In addition to your social security card, this is the jackpot for identity thieves, containing everything they need to pretend to be you, including your account number, your banks routing number, and your name and address. Your family’s social security cards and your checkbooks should be locked away out of plain sight at home when not in use.
7. Finally, constantly monitor your bank and credit card accounts for fraudulent transactions. If you really want to stay on top of things, arrange to track your accounts on line. I do this with all of my bank and credit accounts, checking my transactions for errors or theft as often as I want to–even several times a day. Why wait weeks (or longer) for your statements to arrive in the mail to discover that crooks have arranged for them to be forwarded to your “new” address?
The bottom line: It’s hard enough keeping your spending under control during the holidays without getting “help” from identity thieves checking off their Christmas shopping list using your money. For more information on how to protect yourself from identity theft and what actions you should take should you be victimized, check out the following organizations and web sites:
Federal Trade Commission: http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft or 877-438-4338
The Identity Theft Resource Center: http://www.idtheftcenter.org