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What To Do If You've Been Phished
SecurityProNews
Staff Writer
2006-04-24
 Insider Reports RSS Feed
Last week the University of South Carolina announced it had accidentally made public the Social Security numbers of 1,400 students. In response, the National Crime Prevention Council released a list of tips intended students and faculty to prevent identity theft, but will serve us well in situations like this in the future.
Preventing Identity Theft
· Remove your Social Security number from your personal checks, driver's license, and school identification cards. Don't carry your Social Security card in your wallet; securely store it somewhere else.
· Never give out your personal information over the phone or Internet unless you have initiated the contact. "Phishing" is a popular scam in which identity thieves pose as banks or credit card companies and ask you to "verify" your account information through use of a false email. Legitimate businesses won't contact you in this manner.
· Use only secure websites for Internet transactions, and always check the web address in your browser's window to make sure you are on the correct site for the business before you give out personal information; many crooks set up sham sites that look like the real thing.
· Retrieve mail from your mailbox promptly. Thieves "shop" mailboxes for information that can help them assume your identity. If you're going away for a few days, have the post office hold your mail or ask a friend to pick it up for you.
· Don't throw away those preapproved credit card offers. Shred them, along with any other documents with personal information thieves can use. Documents such as phone bills, credit card receipts, and mail-order catalogs all hold valuable information tied to your identity.
· Check your credit records at least once a year with the three major credit bureaus. Check immediately if you think something unusual is going on with your accounts. You can get a free copy of your credit report at www.annualcreditreport.com.
What to Do if You're a Victim
· Report suspicious activity right away. Alert any one of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion) to the possible fraud and close the account that you believe has been compromised.
· File a police report in case you need to provide proof of the crime.
· File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at www.consumer.gov/idtheft.
About the Author:
SecurityProNews is a daily online and email publication focusing on internet security issues.
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