Credit fraud costs hundreds of millions of dollars annually. The most effective safeguard against fraud is you! Take these easy, yet essential steps to ensure that your personal information is safe and secure:
• Carry minimal amounts of personal information and credit cards with you.
• Make sure all of your credit cards have your signature on the back.
• Keep
a list of credit card numbers, expiration dates and grantor
phone numbers in a safe
place in case your cards are lost or stolen.
• Never put your credit card and PIN number in the same location.
• Make sure your card is returned to you after making a purchase.
• Monitor your billing statements closely to ensure all activity is authorized.
• Never
give personal information such as social security number or account
number over
the phone unless the call was initiated by you.
• Don't write your account number on a postcard or outside of an envelope.
• Never lend your card to anyone.
If you are a victim of fraud, take action immediately:
• Contact the credit bureaus to have a fraud alert/victim statement placed on your report.
• Request a copy of your credit report to research any unauthorized activity (make sure to review inquiries). If you have reason to believe your credit report is inaccurate due to fraud, the credit bureaus must provide a free copy of your report.
Equifax
or www.equifax.com
1-800-685-1111
PO Box 740241 Atlanta, GA 30373-0241
Experian
(formerly TRW) or www.experian.com
1-888-397-3742
PO Box 2104
Allen, TX 75013-2104
TransUnion
or www.transunion.com
1-800-888-4213
2 Baldwin Place PO Box 1000 Chester,
PA 19022
• File a report with your local police department.
• Contact the FTC's Identity Theft Hotline toll-free at 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338).
• If your checks are stolen, close the account. Determine if bad checks have been passed in your name by calling SCAN (1-800-262-7771). Notify the appropriate check verification service.
TeleCheck = 1-800-710-9898
Certegy, Inc. = 1-800-437-5120
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