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Home > Community > Tips > Identity Theft

Protect Yourself From Fraud

Prevention

Check your credit by contacting the three major credit bureaus

Experian (888) 397-3742
www.experian.com

Equifax (800) 685-1111
www.equifax.com

Trans Union (800) 888-4213
www.transunion.com

Eliminate credit card offers in the mail

The national credit bureaus offer a toll-free number that enables consumers to opt-out of all pre-approved credit offers with just one phone call. Call 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688) for more information.

Organization for research, guidance and complaints

Social Security Fraud (OIG) (800) 269-0271
www.ssa.gov

Identity Theft & Fraud Prevention

Did you know that identity theft is the fastest growing crime in America? According to the Federal Trade Commission, identity theft totaled $47.6 billion nationally in 2003. Unfortunately, Beaverton is not exempt from this crime trend: 88 cases were reported in the first quarter of 2004, compared with 62 cases in 2003. The good news is that your Police Department is aggressively addressing this crime through enhanced investigations, development of a victims’ assistance program, and implementation of a community education campaign as part of a Federal grant.

Tips on Preventing Identity Theft

  1. Keep sensitive documents in a safe place. Do not carry your Social Security card, birth certificate, passport or extra credit cards in your purse or wallet unless absolutely necessary. Store them in a secure place. Protect IRS tax information.

  2. Watch over your personal items. Never leave your purse or wallet unattended for even a moment. Remove valuables from your car, i.e. laptops, purses, or cell phones.

  3. Secure personal mail. Deposit outgoing mail at the Post Office instead of an unsecured mailbox. Remove incoming mail from your mailbox promptly.

  4. When in doubt, shred it. Thieves can obtain valuable personal information from documents you have thrown away or recycled. To protect yourself, use a shredder (preferably cross-cut) and destroy anything containing personal information such as credit card statements, pre-approved credit card offers, bank statements, old insurance forms, old IRS tax forms, bank checks, expired credit cards and household bills.

  5. Guard your Social Security number and personal information. Your Social Security Number (SSN) is the key to your identity and a primary target of identity thieves. Ask to use other types of identifiers. Do not print your SSN on your checks. And never divulge any personal information over the telephone or on a Web site unless you have made the contact yourself and are positive the business is legitimate. Be skeptical of solicitations that ask for personal information – including credit card numbers, account details, your SSN or your mother’s maiden name.

  6. Limit the number of credit cards you have. Cancel any inactive accounts. Even if you do not use them, these accounts appear on your credit report, which can be used by thieves.

  7. Monitor financial statements and checks. Reviewing monthly bank and credit card statements helps ensure accuracy and identify unauthorized activity. If you do not get a statement when expected, contact the sender immediately. Do not have checks sent directly to your home – pick them up instead. If checks are stolen, contact your bank immediately.

  8. Know the contents of your wallet. Photocopy everything in your wallet – including your license, credit cards and insurance card – and keep in one secure place. If your wallet or purse is stolen, report missing cards immediately. Sign all new credit cards right away.

  9. Order a copy of your credit report at least once a year. Examine reports from all three major credit bureaus to ensure that no one else is using your identity to open new accounts or to use your existing accounts.

For more information see our brochure titled: Protect Your Identity, Protect Yourself (PDF).