8 Ways to Protect Your Personal Information and Reduce the Risk of Identity Theft
Protecting your personal information is more important than ever. From sensitive documents and Social Security numbers to credit reports and mail, everyday information can potentially put you at risk if it falls into the wrong hands.
The good news? A few simple habits can help you better protect your personal information and reduce your risk of identity theft and fraud.
Here are eight important ways to keep your personal information safer.
1. Carry Only the Identification You Need
Avoid carrying unnecessary personal documents in your wallet, purse, or vehicle. In particular, you should never routinely carry your Social Security card with you.
Only take the identification you need for the day. Keeping sensitive documents safely stored at home can help reduce the risk of identity theft if your wallet or purse is lost or stolen.
2. Reduce the Amount of Mail Containing Personal Information
Bills, financial statements, insurance documents, and other mail can contain sensitive personal information. Reducing the amount of paper mail you receive can help limit the number of documents containing private information in your home and mailbox.
Whenever possible, consider switching to paperless billing and online account management.
3. Be Careful When Providing Your Social Security Number
Your Social Security number is one of the most important pieces of personal information to protect.
Before providing your Social Security number for an application, purchase, or transaction, ask whether it is truly necessary. You can also ask how the information will be stored and protected.
Never provide your Social Security number simply because someone asks for it without first understanding why it is needed.
4. Check Your Credit Report Regularly
Reviewing your credit report is an important step in protecting yourself from identity theft.
Check your credit history for unfamiliar accounts, inaccurate information, or activity you do not recognize. You can access your credit reports through AnnualCreditReport.com, the authorized website for obtaining free credit reports.
Regularly monitoring your credit can help you identify potential problems early.
5. Never Share Personal Information With Unverified Callers or Websites
Be cautious about sharing personal information over the phone, by email, through text messages, or online.
Never provide sensitive information unless you initiated the contact and have confirmed the identity of the person or business you are communicating with.
Scammers often impersonate banks, government agencies, Internet providers, and other trusted organizations in an attempt to collect personal or financial information.
If something doesn’t seem right, hang up or close the message and contact the company directly using a phone number or website you know is legitimate.
6. Don’t Leave Personal Information in Your Car
Avoid leaving documents, mail, identification, financial information, or other personal records in your vehicle.
Even if your car is locked, documents left inside can be vulnerable to theft. Keep sensitive information with you or securely store it at home.
7. Shred Documents Containing Personal Information
Before throwing away documents containing personal or financial information, shred them.
This can include:
- Bank statements
- Credit card offers
- Old bills
- Medical documents
- Tax records that are no longer needed
- Documents containing account numbers or other personal information
Shredding sensitive documents helps prevent criminals from obtaining personal information through discarded paperwork.
8. Protect Your Outgoing Mail
Outgoing mail can contain checks, account information, addresses, and other sensitive details.
Instead of leaving outgoing mail in a street-side mailbox, consider taking it directly to the post office or placing it in a secure postal collection box.
This simple step can help reduce the risk of mail theft.
An Easy Way to Reduce Paper Mail: Pay Your Bills Online
One way to reduce the amount of mail you receive containing personal information is to switch to online bill payment.
PSC Fiber customers can use eZpay to conveniently manage and pay their bills online. Online billing and payment options can help reduce paper clutter while making it easier to manage your PSC Fiber account.
Learn more about eZpay and online bill payment with PSC Fiber by visiting:
Protecting Your Personal Information Starts With Everyday Habits
Protecting your identity and personal information doesn’t have to be complicated. Small steps — such as carrying fewer sensitive documents, monitoring your credit, shredding unnecessary paperwork, and being cautious about who you share information with — can make a meaningful difference.
Stay alert, protect your personal information, and think twice before sharing sensitive details online, over the phone, or through the mail.
Article courtesy of Cornerstone Group