Do You Know What To Do If You Are A Victim Of Identity Theft?
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Tips on preventing Identity Theft in Colorado.
There are a number of things you can do to minimize the chances that you will become a victim of identity theft:
- NEVER provide personal identifying or financial information during a telephone call you did not initiate. Banks, credit card companies, telephone companies and other legitimate creditors do not call to "verify" account numbers or to ask for your social security number or other personal information.
- NEVER provide personal identifying or financial information over the telephone to anyone claiming to represent a contest or sweepstakes promotion. It is illegal to market a foreign lottery in the United States. These calls are always fraudulent.
- NEVER carry your social security card in your purse or wallet.
- NEVER have your social security number printed on your checks, driver's license or other financial documents. If a bank, health care provider or other entity uses your social security number for client or account identification, call or write that company and ask that a different identification number be issued.
- NEVER respond to e-mail or "pop-up" messages on your computer claiming some problem with a credit card, Internet, or other account. Promptly contact your real credit card company or lSP to verify that there are no problems with your account.
- Use a "cross-cut" shredder and get in the habit of shredding all personal or financial documents before placing them in the trash. Shred copies of bills and invoices after you have paid them, bank statements (including your canceled checks), investment or retirement account statements, pre-approved credit card or loan applications (especially those that come with a negotiable check attached), medical statements of any kind, and any other documents with information about you or your finances.
- Password protect all credit card accounts that allow it. Do not use common numbers or personal information (like birth dates or part of your social security number) or commonly chosen words (such as a child's, spouse's, or pet's name) for passwords.
- Control access to your credit history. Remove your name from mailing lists for pre-approved lines of credit by participating in the "Opt-Out" program. Call 1-888-5-"OPT OUT" (1-888-567-8688) or visit www.optoutprescreen.com to enroll. You will need to provide your social security number to verify that you are making the request, but this is a legitimate use of such information.
- Be careful with your incoming and outgoing mail. If you don't have a secure, locked mailbox, mail your bills from a curbside public mailbox or directly at your local post office. NEVER leave outgoing mail in an un-secured mailbox overnight. If you are planning on being away from home, arrange with your post office to hold your mail.
- Arrange to pick up new checks at your bank. NEVER have boxes of new checks delivered to your home (they do not fit in many mail slots so your postal carrier may leave them on your doorstep).
- Take all credit card or ATM receipts with you after you pay for goods or services. Do not just leave them behind or throw them away in the trash can. Destroy them in your cross-cut shredder when you get home.
The information contained within this booklet is for educational purposes only and should not be substituted for the advice of an attorney licensed to practice law in Colorado.
Publication date: January 2021
(from Colorado Attorney General's Office of Consumer Protection)
COLORADO IDENTITY THEFT DATA
