Forsyth Medical Center 
Identity Theft
| Identity theft is becoming more prevalent with each passing year. But, there are ways you can protect your name, and your credit. All it takes is a little bit of time. |
Tips You Can Take to Prevent Identity Theft
- Tip 1: Check your credit report every year through the three major credit bureaus:
- Tip 2: Don't give out personal information on the phone, by mail or over the Internet unless you initiated the contact and you know who you are dealing with.
- Tip 3: Mail your correspondence at a post office box or at the post office instead of in an unlocked outgoing mailbox.
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Tip 4: Protect your social security number at all times by:
- Keeping your social security card in a secured place like a lock box or safe deposit box
- Not puting your SSN or your driver's license number on your checks
- Giving your SSN only when absolutely necessary
- Tip 5: Put passwords on your credit card, bank and phone accounts.
Other Helpful Tips:
- Make sure your personal information in your home is secured, especially if you have roommates, have outside help or are having work done at your home.
- Carry only the identification information and the number of credit and debit cards you actually need.
- Keep your purse or wallet in a safe place at work.
- Pay attention to billing cycles and let your creditors know if your bills don't arrive on time.
- Be wary of promotional scams. Click here to check for scams.
- "Opt-out" and decrease the number of pre-screened credit card offers and promotional direct mail or e-mail you receive.
- For credit card offers, call 1-888-567-8688.
- For promotional direct mail, register with the Direct Marketing Association's Mail Preference Service. Your name is placed on a "delete" list for five years. Click here to register.
- The Direct Marketing Association also provides the same service to reduce unsolicited commercial emails. Click here to register.
- Shred any credit card offers you receive in the mail.
Steps to Follow if You Become a Victim:
- Step 1: Call and write to the three credit bureaus to report on the crime.
- Step 2: File a report with your local police or the police in the community where the ID theft took place.
- Step 3: Close any accounts that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.
- Step 4: Ask credit account (includes bank accounts and other lenders, credit card companies, phone companies and utilities) companies what forms are needed to dispute fraudulent charges or debits.
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Step 5: If you have had check stolen or misused, close your account. Then contact the three major check verification companies and ask that retailers who use their databases not accept your checks:
- TeleCheck: 800-710-9898 or 927-0188
- Certegy, Inc.: 800-437-5120
- International Check Services: 800-631-9656
- Step 6: Call SCAN, 800-262-7771, to find out if bad checks have been passed in your name.
- Step 7: File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. Click here for more information or call 877-438-4338.
For more information on identity theft and how to protect yourself, check the following Web sites:
