Vision Magazine

The Free Credit Report Program

What is Identity Theft?
Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information without your permission to take over your existing accounts or to open new accounts. Identity theft can result in damage to your credit rating and denials of credit.

Identity theft commonly begins with the loss or theft of a wallet or purse. But there are many other ways that criminals can obtain and use your personal information, including "dumpster-diving" (stealing records from your trash) and phishing (sending fraudulent e-mails requesting your personal information).

Since identity theft is of concern, it's important to remember that there are steps you can take to minimize the risk and help protect your privacy and identity.

Shred documents containing your sensitive information before
discarding them.
Secure your sensitive information at home and at work.
Before disclosing any personal information, make sure you know why it is required and how it will be used.
Obtain your credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus once every 6-12 months and review them for accuracy. (You can get a free copy of your credit report each year at www.annualcreditreport.com).
Use caution when responding to e-mails requesting personal information. When in doubt, contact the sender of the request through a known, secure channel (phone number on back of credit card or a known website address).