Can you put a firewall around your mailbox? Probably not, but there are some steps you can take to reduce your risk of identity theft. This month our experts take on Identity Theft and answer the question, “What can I do to protect myself?”

From Matthew Hensley, Branch Sales Manager at our Northgate branch:

1. Protect your Social Security Number (SSN)–Don’t carry your card in your wallet and never write it down on a check or other negotiable instruments. Give your SSN only when absolutely necessary; if at all possible, use other identifiers. If your SSN is used on your State’s Driver’s License or Medical Insurance Card, ask if you are able to substitute another number.
2. Treat your garbage and mail carefully–Thieves have no problems digging in your trash or mailbox if it means they can get your credit card number or other information to use your identity fraudulently. I highly recommend paying bills online and receiving paperless statements via online/email. If you must mail sensitive information, use the post office—not a blue drop box but an actual United States Post Office. Despite all the reports of database theft, the most common method thieves use to steal our personal information is through traditional rather than electronic channels. The Justice Department (2006) found that in the cases where the method was known, 68.2% of information was obtained off-line vs. only 11.6% obtained online.
3. Use complex passwords–put passwords on all credit cards, bank accounts and phone accounts. When selecting passwords for these and your online accounts, avoid using anniversary or birthdates, mother’s maiden name or the last four digits of your SSN. I would even go as far as to not use your pet’s name because you never know who is listening when you are walking your dog or calling your cat to come in. The strongest passwords are combinations of letters and numbers or special characters.

 A great reference for tips for Identity Theft Protection or a resource for victims of Identity Theft is provided by the Federal Trade Commission.

From Drew Baker, Risk Specialist,

Tips to avoid ID theft: ID theft can involve plastic card fraud and check washing. If someone uses your plastic card or check, they are assuming your identity. Here are a few ways to try to avoid these frauds.

1. Avoid check washing by switching to online billpay: that’s the quickest and easiest solution. It’s also better for the environment and uses less paper and fuel to drive your paper where it is going. If you still must write paper checks, use the Uniball 207 Gel Pen, as it is touted as an anti-check washing pen. Don’t put personal checks in your outgoing mail if your mailbox is unsecured.  Avoid giving unknown individuals checks for payment. If you must pay someone that you don’t know for goods or services, use cash, money order or a cashier’s check.
2. Avoid plastic card fraud. Skimming devices are increasingly being used to copy cards and PINs which are then used to make counterfeit cards. These skimming devices are usually placed as an overlay onto an ATM machine or pay-at-the-pump gas station kiosk. You should always visually inspect any card reader that you put your card into. If you see that the plastic overlay is loose, off-colored or comes off in your hand, don’t use it and report this to the police. Run your hands over the card reader and key pad to make sure they are not fake ones placed on top of the real thing. The crooks are also placing fake speakers, brochure holders or other devices with cameras pointed at the key pad to capture the pin numbers. Use an ATM that you are familiar with, so you know what it looks like. Watch your account activity carefully: crooks will “test” a stolen card number to make sure it works by sending through a small authorization first (iTunes for $1.00, for example) so you may not notice or care. The big transactions will show up later; count on it!

Drew Baker, aka “Captain Safety,” is our Risk Specialist here at GHCU. He knows a lot about how fraud is perpetrated, and he’s going to be a frequent guest blogger. We hope his expertise will help our members and readers protect themselves from identity thieves and other scam perpetrators. 

from Drew:

Leaving sensitive information in your outgoing mail is becoming increasingly risky. Unsecured mailboxes are an open an invitation to criminals.

A few years ago, some of my mother’s checks were stolen out of her mailbox. The checks were “washed” and cashed for different amounts than they were originally written, and by different people than the intended payees. In order to have the charges reversed, she had to file a police report and fill out affidavits for the bank. Since the checks were for merchants and assorted bills, she had to prove the fraud to the merchants who did not receive their intended payments. It was a lengthy process, and the loss to her sense of security is something she may never recover.

Risk Management has seen an increase in this type of fraud occurring on GHCU member accounts this year. Every GHCU check washing case in 2009 involved members with an unsecured mailbox, who were writing paper checks and putting them in the mailbox with the flag up. The raised flag on an old-fashioned mailbox is becoming a beacon for fraudsters, identity thieves and check washers, who waltz down your street plucking ripe checks and personal information. You can prevent this from happening to you, and the fixes are relatively simple:

• Sign up for free online bill pay. It’s that easy. Visit GHCU.org to enroll.
• Drop off mail in a secure USPS mailbox or at the post office.
• There are a few pens on the market that can prevent check washing by using special ink. Try your local office supply store.

Help to reverse this fraud trend and keep your checks, personal information and neighborhood safe. If you suspect some of your outgoing mail/checks have been intercepted, immediately notify GHCU. Please share this with your loved ones and neighbors.

Do you have a fraud or identity theft question to ask Captain Safety? Leave your question in the comments, or email them to him at news@ghcu.org. Remember, do NOT include personal information in comments or emails!