Commentary: Keep your identity to yourself

Identity theft is the top consumer crime in Colorado. According to the state attorney general’s office, Colorado ranks 11th nationally in the number of identity-theft victims per capita.

Nearly 10 million people across the country were affected by identity theft in 2002. Identity theft is big business today. A government study shows identity theft nationally cost consumers $5 billion and businesses $48 billion in the past year.

You are the best line of defense to fight crooks and fraudsters. By following the tips below, you’ll help protect your identity and your accounts from those who would use them illegally.

To protect your identity:

o Carry with you only the cards (credit and debit) and personal identification you need. Leave the rest at home in a secure place.

o Keep your Social Security card, passport, birth certificate and the like in a locked drawer at home or in your safe deposit box. There is little need to carry them with you all the time.

o Limit the amount of personal information printed on your checks. For example, do not print your Social Security number, driver’s license or telephone number on your check.

o Never give your bank account or credit card number or other financial information to people you do not know especially over the telephone or via the Internet. Be particularly wary of unsolicited phone sales calls and online information-verification questionnaires.

o When you receive a new order of checks, make sure none of the checks is missing. Report missing checks to your bank at once. If you do not receive your order, alert your bank right away.

To protect your accounts and checks:

o Use debit and check cards instead of “paper” checks whenever possible.

o Sign up for online banking and online bill payment. This minimizes the number of checks you have to write, and you can monitor your account at any time day or night.

o Ensure that your checks incorporate all available security features.

o Store your checks, deposit slips, bank statements and canceled checks in a secure and locked location.

o Reconcile your bank statement as soon as you receive it in order to detect discrepancies.

o Shred documents containing account and credit/debit card numbers and all unneeded financial documents, including old bank statements, invoices and unwanted “pre-approved” check offers.

o Don’t put your bill-payment mail in your residential mailbox. Deposit it in a United States Postal Service box or take it to your local post office.

o If regular bills or statements are not reaching you, immediately call the billing company’s customer service number. Someone may have filed a false change of address notice that is diverting your mail.

o If unauthorized or unfamiliar charges appear on your bills or statements, call immediately to have them removed.

o Protect your ATM password and don’t use obvious or easily attainable information as your password.

If you believe you’ve been victimized, immediately contact your financial services company, bank, credit card companies and other vendors to cancel cards and close accounts. In addition, you’ll want to file a report with your local police department and ask these credit-reporting companies to put a “fraud alert” on your account:

o Equifax (800) 525-6285

o Experian (888) 397-3742

o Trans Union (800) 860-7289

As part of your ongoing vigilance against identity theft, you should review your credit bureau report at least annually and more often if you’ve seen any irregularities on your bills and statements. For a small fee, you can get a copy of your credit report from any of the major credit bureaus mentioned above.

By taking care with your personal information, you’ll stay a step ahead of those who want to make your identity theirs.

Bill Kurtz is president of Wells Fargo Bank in Greeley and Windsor. He can be reached at (970) 336-6255.

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