Safeguard your personal information

Follow these best practices to safeguard your personal information and help prevent identity theft.

• Do not routinely carry your social security card or birth certificate in your wallet or purse.

• Only carry the credit cards you use regularly.

• Cancel credit cards that you do not use.

• Don’t give out personal information on the phone, through mail, or over the internet unless you are sure you know who you are dealing with.

• Don’t give your social security number unless absolutely necessary.

• Keep a list of all of your credit cards and bank accounts and it keep it in a secure place.

• Closely review all credit card and bank statements to detect unusual activity or unauthorized charges.

• Deposit outgoing mail in post office collection boxes or at your local post office instead of an unsecured mailbox.

• Remove mail promptly from your mailbox.

• If you will be away from home and can’t pick up your mail, call the U.S. Postal Office at 1-800-275-8777 or ask for a vacation hold.

• Destroy all credit card and ATM receipts.

• Monitor your credit reports to make sure there is no unauthorized credit activity in your name.