Prevent identity theft by taking precautions such as the following:
- Monitor the balances of your financial accounts for unexplained charges or withdrawals
- Order a copy of your credit report to check for new credit accounts in your name
- Avoid common passwords such as your mother’s maiden name, your birth date or the last four digits of your SSN
- Don’t give out personal information on the phone, through the mail, or over the Internet unless you’ve initiated the contact
- Remove mail from your mailbox promptly and shred receipts, medical records and any sensitive financial information
- Keep your Social Security card in a secure place and give your SSN only when absolutely necessary
- Limit the identification information and the number of credit cards that you carry with you
- Secure your computer by updating your virus protection software, firewall and operating system regularly. Avoid using an automatic log-in feature on your computer
To learn more about the FTC’s Privacy Policy, visit www.consumer.gov/idtheft
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