Page 74 - Book6E

“Buy a shredder. This is one of the easiest ways to guard against “Dumpster diving.”
— Naomi Lefkovitz
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Find out if your information will be shared with anyone else. If so, ask how your information can be kept confidential.
• Don’t give out personal information on the phone, through the mail, or on the Internet unless you’ve initiated the contact or are sure you know whom you’re dealing with. Identity thieves are clever, and have posed as representatives of banks, Internet
service providers (ISPs), and even govern- ment agencies to get people to reveal their Social Security number, mother's maiden name, account numbers, and other iden- tifying information. Before you share any personal information, confirm that you are dealing with a legitimate organization. Check an organization’s website by typ-
ing its URL in the address line, rather than cutting and pasting it. Many companies post scam alerts when their name is used improperly. Or call customer service using the number listed on your account statement or in the telephone book.
• Treat your mail and trash carefully. Deposit your outgoing mail in post office collection boxes or at your local post office, rather than in an unsecured mailbox. Promptly remove mail from your mailbox. If you’re planning to be away from home and can’t pick up your mail, call the U.S. Postal Service at 1-800-275-8777
or go online at www. usps.com to request a vacation hold. The Postal Service will hold your mail at your local post office until you can pick it up or are home to receive it. To thwart an iden- tity 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, checks and bank statements, expired charge cards that you’re discarding, and credit offers you get in the mail. To opt out of receiving offers of credit in the mail, call: 1-888-5-OPTOUT
Privacy Choices for Your Personal Information