An ounce of prevention...

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• Don't give out your Social Security Number!
In most cases, you are not legally required to divulge your SSN. Read more about this in California's Consumer Affair's Privacy Protection bulletin.


• Leave your credit cards at home, in a safe place.    Not only will you use them less often, they will not be as likely to be stolen. Once used, return it to your home's safekeeping location.


• Shred all billing invoices, or burn them.    This prevents others from acquiring your personal and financial information.




• Balance your checking account monthly.    If someone has altered your checks, or created blank checks for their own use, you will be able to notify your bank and work with their officials.


• Don't keep your financial account numbers on your computer.    Likewise, don't keep any of your identifiers on the computer, e.g., social security number, mother's maiden name, etc.

• Avoid Scams • Don't let greed drive you into a scam.         "Something for nothing."         "Too good to be true."         "No fool like an old fool." All are warning signs! • Stay in CONTROL!    Do NOT respond to someone that makes "first contact" with you. You did not contact them. You do not know them. You do not know anything about their services. • Do not respond to their requests.   Do NOT use any telephone number or e-mail address or website address that they give to you. • If they claim to be your bank or credit card company,    tell them that you will contact them later. Look up their phone number, or find it on the back of your credit cards, and contact them yourself. • Keep your guard up.   Scammers know they can throw you off-guard if they can scare you and then pretend quickly to be protecting you. They know that you will probably work with them as they "protect you" all the while getting your financial information. • When in doubt about an offer: Ask.   Ask your banker, the teller at the bank, your family, your friends, your neighbors. After all, if you are scammed you'll be asking all of them for help. Ask them at the early stage.

• Debit Cards (ATM) are from your bank. Bank? Yes, bank. They have a credit card logo on card but it is NOT a credit card and it does NOT have credit card protection.

• Why doesn't my debit card (ATM) have protection?   Because it is funded through your checking account and the regulations are different on checking accounts. There are some hybrid cards available that are both an ATM and a credit card. Check with the issuer about their safety.

• Who's responsible?   You! If someone gets money out of your checking account then it is assumed that you were negligent with your checks, and worse if the theft occurs via a debit card because of the PIN number.

• My PIN number?   Yes, your PIN number (Personal Identification Number) is set by you, only you. YOU are the only one to know that number. If someone else knows it then YOU must have given it to them.

• Can it get worse?   Yes. If you have overdraft protection on your checking account the thief can drain your account and put you into serious debt. You might be able to close the account, but you will still have to repay the debt.

• Can I use a debit card online?  Yes, but be smart about it. Open a new checking account without overdraft protection. Get a new ATM card. Keep the minimum amount in that account in order to keep it open. Make your Internet purchases and deposit an amount equal to the purchase into that account.

• About ATM's from BankRate.com
• ABC's of ATM's
• ATM Fees
• Making a deposit at an ATM
• Debit cards
• Debit Card responsible use tips
• ATM / Debit Card Quiz

• Estimate your FICO Score.    Our FICO scores are based on an ever-changing set of criteria. Visit Bank Rate's FICO score estimation webpage and you'll see the current criteria.

• Obtain your credit reports.   All of these reporting agencies offer a free credit report to you, once a year. Here's the FREE credit report website. It covers all three agencies. Use their "Request Report" (red) button to begin the process.

• Opt-Out of Financial Sharing.    More than likely your mortgage company has authority to share your financial information with others. Never mind that they get paid for the "sharing", but the fact remains that you have legal authority to stop them! How? You have to telephone them or write to them.

• Opt-Out of Junk Snail Mail.
Direct Marketing Association
Mail Preference Service
PO Box 1559
Carmel, NY 10512
(include a check or money order for $1.00)

• Remove your contact information from OTHER means of communications.   
Remove from ... everything

• Opt-Out of Pre-Approved Credit Cards.   
Also, phone 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688) to have your name removed from direct marketing lists. You can also opt-out online at OptOutPreScreen.com, which is the official consumer credit reporting industry opt-out website.