How to Prevent ID Theft
There are a variety of things you can do to reduce the risk of identity theft. Think about taking care of your identity on a regular basis, just like you take care of your health. The collection of ideas below should help raise your awareness.

• Are you at risk?  Click here to take our ID Theft Risk Assessment!
• Ask questions. Don’t reveal any personally identifying information until you understand how it will be used.
• Don’t give out any information over the phone, through the mail, or on the Internet unless you initiate the contact.
• Pay attention to security measures when making purchases on the Internet. Does the site encrypt your transaction information? Those that do will clearly state their security measures on their site. Look for “https” rather than “http” in the first part of the URL. The “s” stands for “secure”. Also, look for a locked padlock icon on the bottom right of your Internet Explorer browser window, and on the bottom left of your Netscape browser window. This locked padlock icon is another indication of a secure site. Click on it and read the certificate.
• Be vigilant about your mail. Promptly remove your mail after it has been delivered. Deposit outgoing mail in collection boxes or at the post office, or consider installing a locked mailbox at your residence.
• If you’re going on vacation, place your mail on hold.
• Pay attention to your charges and billing cycles. Is there a charge on your statement that you don’t recognize? Do your statements arrive on time? If not, contact your creditors. A missing statement could indicate that a thief has taken over your account and has changed your billing address.
• Use Premier FCU’s Online Banking to check your accounts daily.
• Do not print your telephone number or social security number on your checks. Balance your checkbook every month.
• Be cautious about where you keep personal information. Store your social security card, birth certificate, passport, unused bank cards, and canceled and used checks in a safe place, especially if you have roommates, hired help, or are having service work done in your home.
• File away a list of all your account card numbers, expiration dates, and phone numbers. DO NOT carry your social security card, birth certificate or passport with you. Experts agree that the key to identity theft is obtaining a person’s social security number.
• Tear up or shred receipts, credit card offers you get in the mail, expired cards, insurance information, physician statements, bank checks and statements that you are discarding, and anything else that may have your personal information on it.
• Pay special attention to credit card, check card, and ATM receipts. They often have your account number printed right on them! A crosscut shredder is highly recommended.
• Order a copy of your credit report on a regular basis. Request changes to inaccuracies in writing and follow up with each credit bureau. See the following list of credit reporting agencies. 
• Remove yourself from marketing lists. Even though many marketing organizations allow you to “opt out” of having your information shared with others, you may want to contact the following organizations.

Credit Bureaus: To stop prescreened credit card offers from coming to you in the mail.

• Prescreened credit offer Opt-Out line: 888.567.8688
• Experian’s consumer Opt-Out line: 800.407.1088

Identity theft insurance is also available through various insurance companies. It can also be sold as a rider to your homeowner’s policy. The fees vary, and coverage normally includes legal expenses, loan re-application fees, telephone and certified mailing charges, notary expenses and lost wages for the time taken from work to deal with the fraud. Contact your insurance agent for more information.