Protecting Your Identity

Minimize Your Risk

The best way to fight identity theft is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Although you may not be able to entirely prevent yourself from becoming a victim of identity theft, there are several things you can do to minimize your risk.

Here are a few basics to protecting your identity:

• Order a copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus.
• Don't give out your personal information over the phone, by mail or over the Internet unless you are able to identify who you are dealing with. You could fall victim to a phishing scam.
• Guard your mail and trash from theft.
• Don't put outgoing mail in your mailbox. Take it to the Post Office.
• Don't carry your Social Security card; leave it in a secured place.
• Carry only the identity information and credit and debit cards that you will actually need.
• Cancel any credit cards that you don't use.
• Be wary of promotional scams.
• Update your computer's virus protection regularly.
• Do not download files sent to you by strangers or click on hyperlinks from people you don't know.

To view videos on additional tips for protecting yourself from becoming a victim of identity theft, please visit the Federal Trade Commission and/or the FDIC website.