Protect yourself fromidentity theft now! Identity theft occurs when someone wrongfully uses your personal identification to obtain credit, loans, services, even rentals and mortgages in your name. They may even commit crimes while impersonating you! Identity theft is a frightening and overwhelming experience if it does happen to you. You may not know it is happening for months or years! Colorado United’s goal is to educate our members by offering these preventative tips:

1. NEVER, EVER GIVE OUT YOUR PIN. NO ONE SHOULD EVER ASK FOR YOUR PIN. IF THEY DO, DO NOT GIVE IT TO THEM, BECAUSE THEY ARE “PHISHING” FOR YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION.
Phishing is the act of falsely claiming to be an established legitimate enterprise in an attempt to scam the user into surrendering private information that will be used for identity theft.

2. Buy a cross-cut type shredder (approximately $60-$70.) Shred all credit card receipts and important papers, especially pre-approved credit applications received in your name and other financial information that provides access to your private information.

3. Be careful of "Dumpster Diving." Make sure that you do not throw anything away that someone could use to become you. Anything with your identifiers must be shredded (cross-cut) before throwing away.

4. Be careful at ATMs and using Phone Cards. "Shoulder Surfers" can get your "Pin Number" and get access to your accounts.

5. Get all of your checks delivered to your bank—not to your home address.

6. Do not put checks in the mail from your home mailbox. Drop them off at a U.S. Mailbox or the U.S. Post
Office. Mail theft is common. It's easy to change the name of the recipient on the check with an acid wash.

7. When you order new credit cards in the mail, or your previous ones have expired, watch the calendar to make sure you get the card within the appropriate time. If it is not received by a certain date, call the credit card grantor immediately and find out if the card was sent. Find out if a change of address was filed if you don't receive the card or a billing statement.

8. Put passwords on all your accounts and do not use your mother's maiden name. Make up a fictitious word.

9. Ask all financial institutions, doctors' offices, etc., what they do with your private information and make sure that they shred it and protect your information. Tell them why.

10. Empty your wallet of all extra credit cards and social security numbers, etc. Do not carry any identifiers you do not need. Don't carry your birth certificate, social security card, or passport, unless necessary.

11. Memorize social security numbers and passwords.

12. When a person calls you at home or work, and you do not know this person, never give out any of your personal information. If they tell you they are a credit grantor of yours call them back at the number that you
know is the true number, and ask for that party to discuss personal information. Provide only information
that you believe is absolutely necessary.

13. Do not put your social security number on your checks or credit receipts. If a business requests your social security number, give them an alternate number and tell them why. They do not need that to identify you. If a government agency requests your social security number, there must be a privacy notice accompanying the request.

14. Do not put your credit card account number on the Internet (unless it is encrypted on a secured site.) Don't put account numbers on the outside of envelopes, or on your checks.

15. When you are asked to identify yourself at schools, employers, or any other kind of institutional identification, ask to have an alternative to your social security number. Unfortunately, your health insurance carrier often uses your social security number as your identification number. Try to change that if you can.

16. In conjunction with a credit card sale do not put your address, telephone number, or driver's license number on the statement.

17. Monitor all your bank statements from every credit card every month. Check to see if there is anything you do not recognize and call the credit grantor to verify it is truly yours.

18. Order your credit report at least once a year and review it carefully. If you see anything that appears fraudulent, immediately put a fraud alert on your reports by calling the numbers below.

19. Immediately correct all mistakes on your credit reports in writing. Send those letters Return Receipt Requested, and identify the problems item by item with a copy of the credit report back to the credit reporting agency. You should hear from them within 30 days.

20. Take your name off all promotional lists. Call the three credit reporting agency numbers to opt out of pre-approved offers.

Experian: 888.567.8688
Equifax: 888.567.8688
TransUnion: 888.567.8688

Write to the following to get off promotional lists:

Direct Marketing Association
Mail Preference Service
P. O. Box 9008
Farmingdale, NY 11735

Direct Marketing Association
Telephone Preference Service
P. O. Box 9014
Farmingdale, NY 11735

21. Write to your State and Federal Legislators to demand stronger privacy protection. Also, ask that identity theft be considered a crime in your State. Demand that the State Finance and Banking Committees pass legislation to protect consumers from negligent bank and credit reporting practices.

22. Make a list of all your credit card account numbers and bank account numbers (or photocopy) with customer service phone numbers, and keep it in a safe place. (Do not keep it on the hard drive of your computer if you are connected to the Internet.)