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Tips To Prevent Identity Theft

Social Security numbers are prime targets because they are the key to bank and credit card accounts, as well as insurance and health benefits. Therefore, these numbers should only be released when absolutely necessary or required by law.

Do not throw out credit card statements, bills, insurance papers, or bank statements where a criminal could retrieve them from the trash. If you must throw them out, first shred or burn them.

Be wary of giving out personal or financial information over the phone to anyone who calls you to solicit a purchase or donation. If you are interested in the offer, contact the business or charity yourself and check first with the Better Business Bureau or the Attorney General's Office to verify legitimacy.

Be aware of anyone calling to confirm personal or financial information. Often times, these are criminals trying to obtain information under the guise of confirmation.

Carefully review your credit card and bank statements each month for unauthorized purchases.

A recent amendment to the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act requires each of the major nationwide consumer reporting companies to provide you with a free copy of your credit reports, at your request, once every 12 months.

Free reports are being phased in during a nine-month period, rolling from states in the West to the states in the East. Beginning September 1, 2005, free reports will be accessible to all Americans, regardless of where they live.

Consumers in the Midwestern states B Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin B can order their free reports beginning March 1, 2005.

To order your free annual report from one or all the national consumer reporting companies, visit www.annualcreditreport.com, call toll-free 877-322-8228, or complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281. The form is at the back of this brochure; or you can print it from www.ftc.gov/credit. Do not contact the three nationwide consumer reporting companies individually. They provide free annual credit reports only through www.annualcreditreport.com, 877-322-8228, and Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.