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Protect Your Computer Assume that any e-mail or pop-up message on your computer that claim that there is a problem with one of your accounts is fraudulent, and call the company or institution with which you have the account to verify that there is no problem and to report the attempted fraud Install virus and spyware detection software and keep it updated Avoid opening e-mail messages or attachments or following hyperlinks received from strangers Install a firewall program Use a secure browser-software that or scrambles information you send over the internet-to protect the security of your online transactions Protect any financial information that you store on your computer with a difficult password Before you dispose of your computer, use a wipe utility program to overwrite the entire hard drive Review a websites privacy policy before transacting any business through it. A reliable privacy policy should explain what information the website collects from you, how it protects that information, whether it uses cookies and whether it allows you to opt in or opt out of the websites data collecting, sharing or retaining policies Control Access to You and Your Credit History Remove your name from mailing lists for approved lines of credit by participating in the credit bureaus’ opt-out program; Call 888-5-OPT-OUT ([PHONE REDACTED]) to enroll. You will need to provide your SSN to verify that you are making the request, but this is a legitimate use of such information Write to your bank, insurance company and other financial institutions you do business with and tell them not to share your customer information with unqualified third parties. Under federal law, they are required to honor this request. Remove your name from national direct mail advertising lists by sending your name and address with a written request to DMA Mail Preference Service, Department 12059580, Direct Marketing Association, PO Box 282, Carmel NY 10512. Participate in the national no-call registry by going online at www.donotcall.gov or by calling [PHONE REDACTED] If you are a member of the military an away from your usual duty station, instruct the three credit reporting agencies to place an active duty alert on your credit reports to help minimize the risk of identity crime while you are deployed. Visit to request the alert. Watch for Signs of Fraud Phone:527-8700 Fax: 527-8722 1402 River View Drive Cody WY 82414 Cody Police Department Protect Yourself from Identity Crime Cody Police Department Review your bank and credit card statements and alert creditors to any charges you do not recognize Order a copy of your credit report at least annually and check it carefully Review the earnings and benefits summary you received from the Social Security Administration each year Notify your creditors any time a bill is late to arrive and verify that they have your correct mailing address ---PAGE BREAK--- What Do Criminals Do With My Personal Identifying Information? Make purchases with your credit cards, sometimes after calling the card issuer and asking for a change of mailing address to divert bills and delay detection Drain your bank account using electronic fund transfers, counterfeit checks or a debit card Open a new credit card account in your name File for bankruptcy in your name to avoid paying debts they may have incurred in your name Buy cars in your name Give your name to police after an arrest Use your name and credit when they buy goods and services to be used in illegal activities Use your social security number to obtain employment Safeguard Your Social Security Number Remove your SSN from your driver’s license, personal checks and financial documents Store your social security card in a safe place in your home, such as a locked safe, not in your purse or wallet Request any businesses or institutions that use your SSN as your identification number to issue a different number to you Give your SSN only to those parties that have a legitimate need for it ie: financial institutions or employers Safeguard Your Credit Cards and Personal Checks Keep your wallet or purse in a secure place at all times Carry only one or two credit cards in your wallet or purse and store any others in a secure place If your passwords are written down somewhere, store those records separately from your credit cards Password-protect all credit card accounts that allow it Choose passwords and PIN numbers that would be difficult for someone who knows you to guess and avoid such popular ones as birthdates, house numbers, a spouse’s name or mother’s maiden name Arrange to pick up new checks at your bank rather than have boxes of new checks delivered to your home, where postal carriers might leave the oversized boxes on your doorstep What is Identity Crime? Identity crime is the illegal use of another’s personal information, such as credit card numbers , social security or driver’s license number to commit fraud or other crimes. Protect Yourself from Identity Crime If you have been the victim of Identity crime, you might not know it until you have been denied credit, received a bill for something you did not buy, or received a credit card for which you did not apply. It can take months or even years to repair your credit and restore your good name after someone has used your identity. Take steps now to protect yourself from identity crime. What is Personal Identifying Information? Name Address Date of birth Social Security Number Telephone Numbers Driver’s License Number Account Numbers Passwords PIN Numbers E-mail Address and Screen Name How Do Criminals Get My Personal Identifying Information? Steal your wallet or purse Burglarize your home Steal your credit or debit card numbers Steal mail from your mailbox Go through your trash Fraudulently obtain your credit reports or person records Divert your mail using a change-of-address form Ask you to give your account numbers over the phone or by e-mail Purchase information from unscrupulous employees at companies with which you do business Burglarize businesses that have your information on file Hack into your computer Safeguard Your Personal Papers Keep credit account information in a safe place, such as a locked safe Always ask for a receipt when you pay with a credit or debit card and take your receipts home with you for shredding Get in the habit of shredding all personal or financial documents before placing them in the trash Safeguard Your Mail Install a locked mailbox or front-door mail slot at your home or use a post office box to receive mail Send mail, especially payments, from a curbside public mailbox or from the local post office Remove your mail from your mailbox Never leave outgoing mail in an unsecured mailbox overnight Ask the post office to hold your mail while you are away from home for any length of time by calling [PHONE REDACTED] or visit www.usps.gov Protect Your Information on the Phone and on the Computer When placing an order on the phone or online, use a credit card rather than a debit card Give credit account information over the phone only if you initiated the call and know the business Remember that banks, credit card companies, telephone compa- nies and other legitimate creditors do not call to verify account numbers or to ask for your SSN or other personal information Keep Your Good Name Refuse to be a target of Identity Crime How Can I Protect My Identifying Information? One in four people will be impacted by the fastest growing crime in America— IDENTITY CRIME