Stonecreek Homeowners Association

ARE YOU REALLY YOU?

Do you really protect your Identity?

Recently, a man had his identity stolen when he left a credit card receipt behind in a restaurant. This in itself is not a good idea, but when it contains your account number, expiration date and name, it can be especially easy picking for the unscrupulous. (Many merchants no longer print the entire account number on the receipt copy, but some still print the entire number.)

A receipt that contains your account number, expiration date and name is all that is required to make purchases on the Internet, telephone or mail. (If you are making a purchase in a store, the signature can at least be verified.)

“Here are some tips to minimize your risks:
1. Never leave credit card or ATM receipts behind....
2. Don't give out personal information over the Internet, ”or telephone, “unless you have initiated the contact and always use a credit card with a low purchase limit to buy things over the Internet.
3. Deposit outgoing mail into a post office deposit....
4. Never toss credit card convenience checks, receipts or bills into the trash....” SHRED THEM.
5. Don't leave your purse or wallet unattended in a car, under the seat at the movie theater or in a grocery cart.
6. Check all credit card bills that come to you for errors and omissions and verify the issues immediately with the particular business and order a copy of your credit report from each of the reporting credit agencies annually, making sure that it accurately itemizes only those activities that YOU have authorized.

EQUIFAX - www.equifax.com, P.O. Box 740250, Atlanta, GA 30374-0250, (800) 525-6285

EXPERIAN - www.experian.com PO. Box 1010
Allen, TX 75013 (888) 397-3742

Trans Union - ww.tuc.com P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92634 (800) 888-4213

“For more information about this or if you would like to know about the programs that the Gilbert Police Department has to offer, you can call the Crime Prevention Unit at (480) 503-6527 or go online at www.ci.gilbert.az.us/police/index.html”
Source: Gilbert: Your Community, 9/2002