Identity Theft

• Be aware of your surroundings before and when using an ATM. Make sure that others are not looking when you type your pin. If it is a busy area, cover the keypad as you type. If the machine is obstructed from view or poorly lit, visit another ATM.
• When using an enclosed ATM that requires your card to open the door, avoid letting strangers follow you inside.
• When using a drive-up ATM, make sure all passenger car doors are locked and windows are up.
• Do not leave your car unlocked or engine running when you get out to use an ATM.
• Be cautious if an ATM you visit regularly has changed in appearance (e.g.  there is not a flashing light near the card entrance where there once was or the card reader area is visibly larger). Signs of difference may indicate that a card skimmer, a device that can steal your card information via the magnetic strip, may be attached.
• PC Magazine notes that “the typical ATM skimmer is a device smaller than a deck of cards that fits over the existing card reader.” They note that “wiggling your card as you enter it [in the ATM will not] interfere with your transaction, but will foil the skimmer." To learn more about card skimmers, read this PC Mag article.
• Put your cash, card and receipt away immediately. Count your money later, and always keep your receipt.
• If you see anyone or anything suspicious, cancel your transaction and leave immediately. If anyone follows you after making a transaction, go to a crowded, well-lit area and call the police.
• Immediately report any stolen or lost Debit, Credit or ATM card to your financial.

• At a restaurant, turn your card face down when paying the bill and take all receipts when leaving to prevent people from accessing private information.

• Don't use a PIN that's easily guessed based on wallet contents (e.g. zip code or birth date) and don't use the same PIN for all cards.
• Memorize your PIN; never carry it in your wallet or purse.

A credit report is a document detailing your credit history. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) describes this document as one containing information on your residence, bill payment and “whether you’ve been sued or have filed for bankruptcy.”

There are three consumer reporting agencies in the United States in which you can get your free credit report from annually under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. It is vital obtain a copy of each annually to ensure that all account information is accurate.

The only website authorized to give this free report yearly is annualcreditreport.com. When visiting the site to get a copy of your report, make sure to check your spelling to ensure you are on the correct site. To learn about “imposter” websites offering free credit reports, visit the FTC.

When you visit this site, you can choose to either get all three reports at the same time, or you can instead decide to space out annual free report for each of these reporting agencies and visit the site every four months for a free report. If you chose the latter, make sure to keep note of which agency you obtained a report from as you will not get another free report from this agency for another 12 months.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) notes that “under the FCRA, both the credit reporting company and the information provider are responsible for correcting inaccurate or incomplete information in your report.”

If you find an error on your report, follow the steps indicated by the FTC including contacting both the credit reporting agency and the information provider. Detailed instructions can be found on the FTC's site.