Identity Thieves

1. Safety Tips in an Electronic World

2. Defer, Detect, Defend: Avoid ID Theft

3. FTC Identity Theft Complaint Form

4. Coping with Identity Theft: Reducing the Risk of Fraud

5. Take Charge: Fighting Back Against Identity Theft

6. Identity Theft Resource Center: Scams & Consumer Alerts

7. Excuse Me, May I Borrow Your Passwords?

8. Fraud, Phishing And Financial Misdeeds

9. America's Sleeping Giant: Child Identity Theft

10. VA Security Breach

Safety Tips in an Electronic World

The most common the way thieves go about getting information is by stealing your wallet or purse. However, other ways may include looking over your shoulder while you are using an ATM machine to get your PIN; stealing your mail from your mail box; going through your trash, and fraudulently ordering your credit report. To prevent this from happening to you the following are some suggestions to use:

• Don't give out your social security number. If your state law allows, do not use your it on your driver's license.

• Shred or tear up credit card offers, receipts, bank statements, and anything else that may have personal information on it.

• Don't send personal information over the internet, through e-mail, or over cell phones.

• Don't use passwords that are obvious - relatives names, pets, birth dates, current or former addresses. Mix up numbers and letters, alternating between upper and lower case.

• Be aware of your surroundings while using an atm machine.

• Remove the cash immediately as soon as the atm releases it. Put the money in a secure spot and take your receipt with you.

Source: North Dallas Police Dept. - Captain G. McHone

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