Identity Theft Prevention: How Savvy Are You? 
 
Over the past decade, the growing issue of identity theft has left many people with a sense of fear and concern, wondering how to protect themselves.  Identity thieves have many ways of obtaining your personal financial information and using it to make fraudulent charges or withdrawals from your accounts.

Do you know how you can reduce your risk of becoming the victim of identity theft?  We have compiled a quiz to show you how your knowledge of the crime can help protect you from becoming a victim of identity theft in many ways.  Awareness is key to identity theft protection.

After this brief quiz, your knowledge of identity theft will be improved and help to protect you and your family.

1. You should never write your PIN (personal identification number) on any of your credit cards or ATM cards.

2. It is not necessary to monitor every transaction on my monthly statements.

3. Never carry more ATM or credit cards on you than you need to use while you are out.

4.  It is necessary to shred even “junk mail” before throwing it away.

5. Can I request one free copy of my credit report annually.

Answers:
Answer 1:  True.  Do not write your PIN number on your cards. Even if you keep your cards in your purse or wallet, there is never a guarantee that they cannot be stolen.  Common theft occurs often, and by writing the PIN number on your cards, you have just helped the thief to your accounts.  If a thief obtains a bankcard but does not know the PIN, it is rendered useless to them.

Answer 2:  False.  Always check your statements. By taking just a few minutes out of your week to scan through your account statements, you will catch any unusual or unauthorized activity.  If your credit card number has been compromised, the identity thief does not need the actual card to make a purchase.  If these discrepancies are not reported to your bank or credit company promptly, you may not have any recourse and end up responsible for them.

Answer 3:  True.  Carry only the cards you need. The fewer cards you are carrying the better, in the event that your purse or wallet is lost or stolen.  You will have to make fewer calls to your credit card companies and banks to report the incident, and fewer accounts are then compromised.

Answer 4:  True.  Junk mail may still contain personal information. Not all identity theft is a result of a robbery.  Some identity thieves have a rather nasty habit of “dumpster diving”, wherein they will root around in trash bins for identifying pieces of mail.  This method gives them more time before being caught, because you are unaware of the existence of the fraudulent accounts, and the bills are not sent to your address.  Pre-approved credit card offers and the like are things that are often tossed out, and can be used by the thieves to establish accounts in your name.  Investing in a paper shredder is an inexpensive way to prevent this.

Answer 5:  True.  You can request your credit report every year. Reviewing your credit report regularly is another method to discover if someone has stolen your identity to create fraudulent accounts or take out unauthorized loans.  If you notice a decrease in the volume of your mail, it is a good idea to check with your local post office to ensure the no one has filed a change-of-address card in your name.