Is Your Identity Safe? Ten Questions to Find Out

This quiz will take just a few minutes to complete. It will help you understand your situation, identify problems, and provide guidance. Just answer true or false to each question. 1. If I receive an email from a company with which I do business, and it contains the companys logo, I can safely provide any information requested. 2. If my caller ID shows that the call is coming from my bank, I can feel safe about answering any questions they ask. 3. Even if I am in possession of my credit cards, an identity thief can make charges on my account. 4. If I dont write down my PIN, nobody can access my bank account through my ATM card. 5. Frequently reviewing my credit report is a useful tool for catching identity theft. 6. Identity theft is considered a small-time crime, thus there is no reason to file a police report. 7. It is not safe to email my user name and password to my bank even though they already have it. 8. It is best not to use a password that I can easily remember, or use the same password for all accounts. 9. I could be out thousands of dollars in fraudulent credit card charges resulting from identity theft if I dont promptly review my statements. 10. If I remove my Social Security card from my wallet, it is unlikely that anyone can discover that number. Answers to Identity Theft Probability CheckSM 1. False - Trying to obtain personal information through the illegal use of an email is known as phishing. Crooks continually blast official looking emails to hundreds of thousands of addresses each day. Believing the email is from a reputable company, the unsuspecting consumer provides account numbers, passwords, and other personal information which is then used to fraudulently open new accounts or access existing ones. 2. False - The crooks know how to set up toll-free numbers that make it appear as though they are legitimate. Never provide information to anyone unless you initiated the call using the customer service number on your credit card, not the number the caller provides to you. 3. True - The first time many people realize their identity has been stolen is when they receive a call from their credit card company, or open their monthly statement. When they look in their wallet, their card is still there. Thieves can skim your card when you give it to them to pay a bill, and then hand the card back to you. Such skimming machines are cheap and available to the public. The magnetic strip on the back of your card contains all of your personal information. The thief can then use that card, and also set up new accounts in your name. Often such information is sold to organized crime rings. 4. False - Crooks may be lurking in line behind you at the ATM machine. They may have tiny cameras installed to capture your account number and PIN. Or, they may even place a plastic strip over the area where you slide your card. This strip can catch your private information and allow the thief to create a new card and access your account. Play it safe by always being aware of your surroundings. 5. True - By frequently checking your credit report, you will notice any inquiries, new accounts, or unauthorized activity on your existing accounts. Take advantage of this by requesting your report every four months from a different bureau. Go to www.annualcreditreport.com to access your account. However, make sure you go to that site and only that site, as there are more than 100 bogus Web sites intent on deceiving you into providing your personal information for their illicit use. 6. False - By all means file a police report. You may need this document to confirm the theft. Also report it to the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov as they track the frequency of Identity Theft. 7. True - Thats exactly the point¦if its truly your bank, they already have that information and wouldnt be asking you for it. Never provide such critical information through an email that you did not initiate, or to a site with which you are not familiar. Take the additional precautionary step of calling your bank to confirm that they are actually the ones requesting the information. 8. True - If its easy for you to remember, its likely that the password is an obvious one. Dont ever use your address, birthday, last four digits of your Social Security number, or any other easily identifiable password. Further, even though it makes it more difficult to keep up with, use different passwords for all accounts, as this makes it harder for the thief to gain access to your entire financial portfolio. 9. False - If your Identity Theft is related to your credit card, it is highly likely that the bank will absorb all charges if you report the theft within 60 days. This is even more of a reason to examine your monthly statements when they arrive, as this provides you with an opportunity to catch unauthorized charges early. Under federal law, your maximum liability on fraudulent credit card charges is $50. You may be out a lot of time, and perhaps even money in lost wages due to having to restore your good name and good credit, but you shouldnt be liable for the actual purchases. Debit cards, however, do not have the same level of protection as credit cards. With debit cards the longer you take to report the fraud, the greater your financial loss. 10. False - Youre smart to remove your Social Security card from your wallet. However, while youre at it, check other cards such as insurance or even your drivers license, as these often use your Social Security Number as you account number. Social Security numbers are usually considered the gateway to your identity, so only provide this number when absolutely necessary.