(207) 945-6264 or 1-800-974-4475 
Identity Theft
The current state of identity theft reads like a classic "good news/ bad news joke." The good news is that the number of United States adult victims of id fraud has been trending down. The bad news is that there are still over 8.4 million victims per year. Unfortunately if you end up being one of them, restoring your good name and good credit are about as far away from a joke as you can get. The truth is that many people are still not taking a number of simple steps to help ensure they do not become a victim of identity theft and possibly spend several hours trying to undo the damage. There are six simple habits you can adopt to protect yourself.
- Guard your Social Security Card
Never, ever, give your SSN in response to email, phone or personal requests, and never carry your SS card in your wallet or purse. - Carry only what you need
Having a full compliment of credit cards in your wallet not only makes it easier for a thief to assume your identity, it also creates a real hassle for you, because you have to deal with all those financial institutions if your purse or wallet is lost or stolen. Keep it simple by carrying just one credit card, one ATM card and your driver's license. - Shred the evidence
Any financial information that flows into your house that you do not need to keep for tax records, should be shredded before it is discarded. This includes ATM receipts, credit card offers, stock trade verifications, unused checking account deposit slips and other sensitive documents. - Protect your computer
Install virus and spyware protection and make sure that it is always up to date. The same goes for your browser. Updates often include "patches" that add an extra level of security. If you upgrade to a new computer, ensure that the hard drive on your old one is entirely erased before you dispose of it. - Keep a full list of your account numbers
Have a list of contact info along with all of your account numbers on file in a safe place (preferably so you can cancel cards quickly and order replacements should your purse or wallet be lost or stolen, whether it is by an identity theft or not). - Review your accounts regularly
Get in the habit of reviewing your paper statements as soon as they arrive in the mail, or reviewing your accounts online on a regular basis. This will help you spot suspicious activity faster.
If you suspect that you are a victim of identity theft, time is of the essence. Contact federal and local law enforcement immediately, then begin contacting your financial institutions to report the fact that your information has been compromised.
