September 2008
How to protect yourself
Data leaks of all types have become so common that a 2008 study of breach victims by the Ponemon Institute, a research group
in Traverse City, Mich., found that 55 percent of victims had been notified of two or more breaches in the previous 24 months.
Consider taking these measures to guard against identity theft:
- Monitor bank and credit-card accounts regularly to spot any questionable charges and report them immediately. You can spot
fraud more quickly by checking online instead of waiting for monthly statements.
- Open what may appear to be credit-card junk mail before tossing it to ensure that it isn’t a letter alerting you about new
accounts opened in your name or an address change that you haven’t authorized.
- Order a copy of your credit report from a different credit-reporting agency every four months. You’re entitled to a free annual
copy of your report from each of the three agencies. Go to www.annualcreditreport.com or call 877-322-8228.
- Consider putting a freeze on your credit files unless you are currently seeking a loan or credit card. A credit freeze effectively
prevents identity thieves from opening new accounts in your name. The process for freezing your files and the fees you’ll
pay, if any, vary from state to state. For a list of instructions by state and other useful information, go to www.FinancialPrivacyNow.org, a site from Consumers Union.
- Don’t carry your Social Security card in your wallet, and shred documents with personally identifying information, such as driver’s-license and financial-account numbers, before discarding them.
