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An ounce of prevention on ID theft is a pound of cure
Nov 26, 2008 (Omaha World-Herald - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
Busy retailers, tired shoppers and lots of cash and ID cards flashing around in public or on- line. The holiday shopping season is prime time for identity theft.
Numbers from bank accounts, charge cards, driver's licenses and other identifying documents can be stolen and turned into cash by thieves.
The Insurance Information Institute gives these tips to keep your personal information personal:
--Carry only the minimum personal information with you. Leave extra credit cards, your Social Security card and passport home.
--Shield your hand when using cards at ATMs, swiping cards at counters or making long-distance calls.
--Always take your card receipts and don't put them in your shopping bag where they could fall out or get stolen.
--Online, be sure you're buying from a reputable retailer with a secure network.
--Track your accounts. Don't rely on your credit card company or lender to alert you to suspicious activity. Check your statement to be sure it's accurate, and call your card company or lender immediately if you see a problem.
--Pick good passwords for your cards and accounts. Avoid easy passwords like your birth date, part of your phone number or consecutive numbers.
--Don't give personal information on the phone, through the mail or via the Internet unless you are sure who you are dealing with and they have a secure line.
--Shred documents with personal information before disposing of them.
--Contact the writer: 444-1080, steve.jordon@owh.com
To see more of the Omaha World-Herald, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to
http://www.omaha.com. Copyright (c) 2008, Omaha World-Herald, Neb. Distributed
by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email
tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax
to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave.,
Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
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