Protecting Your Identity in the Information Age

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A Newsletter by the City of Saco, Maine	July, 2005	Return to newsletter index

In these days of advanced technology and ever-changing information systems it has become increasingly easy to conduct business electronically. We purchase items halfway across the globe, if we wish, never leaving our homes and offices to do so. We have a wealth of information at our fingertips, researching the most esoteric topic from the comfort of our living (or, computer) room, while the kids play in the background and your spouse prepares the evening meal. In the "Information Age", your identity-not necessarily your name-has become the currency by which you conduct your life's pursuits. The 'numbers' that make up who you are include your Social Security number, your credit card numbers and your date of birth, among others. How do we protect them?

Identity Theft Prevention:
While you probably can't prevent identity theft entirely, you can minimize your risk. By managing your personal information wisely, cautiously and with an awareness of the issue, you can help guard against identity theft:

Pay attention to your billing cycles. Follow up with creditors if your bills don't arrive on time. A missing credit card bill could mean an identity thief has taken over your credit card account and changed your billing address to cover his tracks.
Guard your mail from theft. Deposit outgoing mail in post office collection boxes or at your local post office. Promptly remove mail from your mailbox after it has been delivered. If you're planning to be away from home and can't pick up your mail, call the U.S. Postal Service to request a vacation hold. The Postal Service will hold your mail at your local post office until you can pick it up.
Minimize the identification information and the number of cards you carry to what you'll actually need.
Do not give out personal information on the phone, through the mail or over the Internet unless you have initiated the contact or know whom you're dealing with. Identity thieves may pose as representatives of banks, Internet service providers and even government agencies to get you to reveal your SSN, mother's maiden name, financial account numbers and other identifying information. Legitimate organizations with which you do business have the information they need and will not ask you for it.
Keep items with personal information in a safe place. To thwart an identity thief who may pick through your trash or recycling bins to capture your personal information, tear or shred your charge receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance forms, physician statements, bank checks and statements that you are discarding, expired charge cards and credit offers you get in the mail.
Be cautious about where you leave personal information in your home, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help or are having service work done in your home.
Find out who has access to your personal information at work and verify that the records are kept in a secure location.
Give your Social Security number only when absolutely necessary. Ask to use other types of identifiers when possible.
Don't carry your Social Security card; leave it in a secure place.
Order a copy of your credit report from one of the major credit reporting agencies every year. Make sure it is accurate and includes only those activities you've authorized. Your credit report contains information on where you work and live, the credit accounts that have been opened in your name, how you pay your bills and whether you've been sued, arrested or filed for bankruptcy. Checking your report on a regular basis can help you catch mistakes and fraud before they wreak havoc on your personal finances.

And Above All, Common Sense!

Lastly, use common sense. Modern technology has not yet rendered that particular ability useless; and in fact we need it more now than ever. If something seems too good to be true, it usually is! Maine newspapers recently carried a story regarding a central Maine man who lost $5,000-$7,000 dollars to one of the well-known African money scams. This gentleman actually traveled to Africa to hand-deliver (how's that for service!) the cash, whereupon he was robbed of everything he had. Playing the lottery is safer, and has better odds!