Beware of mail, telephone, or internet solicitations disguised as promotions offering instant prizes or awards that require personal information to be disclosed.
Deposit outgoing mail in post office collection boxes or at your local post office. Do not leave in unsecured mail receptacles.
Promptly remove mail from your mailbox after delivery.
Never put your credit card or any other financial account number on a postcard or the outside of an envelope.
Telephone
Beware of mail, telephone, or internet solicitations disguised as promotions offering instant prizes or awards that require personal information to be disclosed.
Never give personal information over the telephone (social security number, date of birth, mother’s maiden name, credit card number, or bank PIN) unless you initiated the call. Protect this information and release it only when absolutely necessary.
Bank Information
Never leave receipts at bank machines, bank counters, trash receptacles, or unattended gasoline pumps. Keep track of your paperwork, and shred it when no longer needed.
Never loan credit cards to anyone.
Notify credit card companies and financial institutions in advance of any change of address or phone number.
Order your credit report from the three credit bureaus quarterly to check for fraudulent activity or other discrepancies.
Save all credit card receipts in a secure place and match them against your monthly bills.
Shield your hand when punching in your PIN number.
Shred pre-approved credit applications, credit card receipts, bills, and other financial information you don’t want before discarding them.
Sign all new credit cards upon receipt.
If you applied for a credit card and it hasn’t arrived in a timely manner, contact the bank or credit card company involved.
Report all lost and stolen credit cards immediately.
Closely monitor expiration dates on your credit cards. Contact the credit card issuer if replacement cards are not received prior to the expiration dates.
Sensitive Information
Memorize your social security number and important passwords. Do not carry them or record them on any cards or anything in your wallet or purse.