| During National Protect Your Identity Week we will be | | | | identification to avoid prosecution by law enforcement. |
| taking a fundamental approach to the issues. In the | | | | - MEDICAL ID THEFT: |
| next 3 posts we'll look at myths, compiled by the | | | | - CRIMINAL THEFT: |
| National Foundation for Credit Counselors (NFCC) who | | | | - EMPLOYMENT FRAUD:o It's my bank's fault I |
| is sponsoring a "Protect Your Identity Week" October | | | | became a victim. Some identity crime does originate |
| 17 - 24. To help support their efforts, The Santa Fe | | | | with the theft of bank records or is perpetuated by lax |
| Group Vendor Council Awareness and Education | | | | security practices. However, the majority of theft |
| Subcommittee helped create these tips. | | | | begins elsewhere. Personal information may be stolen |
| ID theft is preventable. Like any other kind of crime, | | | | with low-tech tools like a lost or stolen wallet, |
| there's always a risk of becoming a victim of identity | | | | checkbook, or debit/credit card, or more high-tech |
| crime. But there are many things people can do to | | | | methods, like skimming, phishing, and hacking.o It is safe |
| minimize that risk both online and offline, like keeping | | | | to give your personal information over the phone to a |
| financial records protected and private, shredding junk | | | | bank if the caller ID shows that it is your bank. It is |
| mail, and tracking who sees your personal information.o | | | | never safe to give personal information to unsolicited |
| ID theft is only a financial crime. While financial ID theft | | | | callers, no matter who they say they are. Caller IDs |
| (theft of information for financial gain) is better known, | | | | are easily spoofed. If you believe the caller is legitimate, |
| other types of identity theft can be equally dangerous, | | | | hang up and call the bank back at its listed phone |
| potentially costly and time-consuming to resolve. For | | | | number. |
| example, with medical identity theft, personal medical | | | | Invest in ID theft protection and prevention. Not all |
| records are used to access medical treatment or | | | | forms of identity theft protection can be prevented, but |
| drugs, or to make false insurance claims. With criminal | | | | identity theft protection services can dramatically |
| identity theft, a person uses faulty or stolen | | | | reduce your risk. |