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C. Prevention - some steps you can take.
Try to maintain the greatest possible level of security over your
private information. Here are suggestions from various business,
government and consumer protection groups of specific things you
can do:
- Do not give out identifying numbers or financial information
on the phone unless you initiate the call and know the person
or organization being called. Never underestimate the persuasive
skills of these crooks; they can fool the smartest of consumers.
- Shred or tear into small pieces all mail solicitations,
bank records or any other discarded documents that may provide
information that can be used to identify you.
- Know the due dates for your bills and statements.
If a regular bill or statement fails to reach you within a week
of the usual time, contact the company to find out why. Thieves
often divert mail to themselves to avoid alerting victims.
- Opt out of receiving pre-screened credit card offers.
The three major credit bureaus use the same number: 1-888-OPTOUT
(1-888-567-8688). (Experian is the only major credit bureau that
goes a step further and offers removal from other lists - those
used for marketing and promotional purposes.)
- Opt out of MDV lists. Notify the Alabama Department
of Motor Vehicles that you do not want information about you provided
to marketing and promotional groups. The Alabama law has many
loopholes but this may help.
- Register on the Do-Not-Registry by calling
1-888-382-1222, from the number you wish to register; or register
online at www.donotcall.gov. Registration is good for five years.
- Opt out of direct mail solicitations and e-mail
lists.
To cut down on unwanted mail, write:
Direct Marketing Association, Mail Preference Service
P.O. Box 643
Carmel, NY 10512
Give your name (all names you are known by), addresses, previous
addresses if you have been there less than five years, and state
that you do not wish to receive mail solicitations.
To remove your name from e-mail lists visit http://www.dmaconsumers.org/offmailinglist.html.
(This will not block spam.)
These actions will not stop all solicitations but should help.
Contacts made before July of each year are the most effective
because holiday advertising is being prepared by then, but requests
made at any time should cut down on your mail.
- Periodically request a copy of your credit record.
The report will let you know who has asked for information about
you recently, which can give an early warning of trouble. To request
a copy of your credit report for a very small charge (no charge
if you have recently been denied credit), call:
Equifax @ 1-800-685-1111;
Trans-Union @ 1-800-916-8800 or
Experian @ 1-888-EXPERIAN (888-397-3742).
- Do not put your Social Security Number on your driver
license and do not carry your SS card in your wallet.
Unfortunately, this will provide only limited benefit, since Medicare
and other health insurers use the SSN as an identifier. This problem
has been called to the attention of the SS Administration and
others, but it seems that little is being done to address it.
- Store new and cancelled checks in a safe place, report
lost/stolen checks to your bank immediately, and carefully
review every statement.
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