It seems like we hear of another identity theft scam on a daily basis. It is more critical than ever to protect your personal information. Here are some tips:
Never carry your social security card in your wallet or purse. If your wallet or purse is stolen, the thief has all the information they need to steal your identity.- A reputable financial institution will not call you to get your social security number and account numbers. They should already have them. If you receive a call asking for your credit card number and full social security number, get the name of the business and offer to call them back. Thieves will pose as representatives of banks or credit card companies.
- If you did not buy a lottery ticket, you did not win. If you receive a letter or call telling you that you won a foreign lottery, throw it away or hang up. They will ask for some type of “identifying” information or your account number to wire the funds into your account. It is a scam and they will be wiring money out of your account.
- Don’t be a victim of “phishing.” Thieves will set up phony Web sites or send e-mails with amazing offers in order to collect your financial information. Know exactly with whom you are doing business. There are thousands of reputable businesses on the Internet, so don’ t be afraid, just be careful. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.