Unsecured documents are stolen from vehicles, mailboxes and homes making consumers an easy target for identity theft.
The 2009 Identity Fraud Survey Report reveals that the number of identity theft complaints increased by 22 percent in 2008. This survey, from Javelin Strategy and Research, indicates that the national impact is overwhelming: 9.9 million Americans were victimized. According to the Federal Trade Commission, Oregonians filed 2,937 identity theft complaints in 2008; putting Oregon at 26 on FTC's list of states receiving the most complaints.
"With identity theft complaints on the rise, it is important for consumers to take pre-cautions in securing their personal information," said Robert W.G. Andrew, President and CEO of Better Business Bureau serving Alaska, Oregon, and Western Washington.
Identity fraud is the unauthorized use of another person’s identity for financial gain or other unlawful purposes. Your BBB provides the following tips to help safeguard sensitive data:
Information Protection: Guard your Social Security number, all account numbers and passwords. Avoid releasing personal information over the phone or Internet unless you initiated the contact. Always select a unique password; do not use your name, birth date. Never carry this information in your wallet, purse, cell phone or PDA. Try to memorize it instead.
Shred Documents: Shred all documents you no longer need that contain personal information before disposing of them, including: credit card applications, old W-2 forms, insurance forms, financial statements, health forms, and other billing statements for phone service, utilities, etc. Do not just throw them away; garbage cans are a goldmine for identity thieves.
Free Shredding Service - BBB's Secure Your ID Day: Consumers can drive up and drop off up to three (3) bags or boxes of documents (no cardboard or three-ring binders), which will be shredded on-the-spot for free. BBB will be also be distributing tips to help consumers protect their identity. Gather up your unwanted documents and take advantage of this free shredding service:
Date: Saturday, July 18, 2009
Time: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Location: Dick’s Mackenzie Ford of Hillsboro
4151 SE Tualatin Valley Hwy, Hillsboro, OR 97123
Shredder: EFI Secured Shredding and Recycling
Partner: Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce
Credit and Debit Cards: Monitor bank and credit card statements for fraudulent activity. Sign your new credit cards as soon as you receive them and write "check photo ID" on the back. Don't carry more cards than you really need. Cut up expired credit and debit cards. Be wary if you do not automatically receive a replacement card when yours has expired. Report lost, missing and stolen credit cards to the issuer immediately.
Credit Report: Be sure to check your credit report annually. The only authorized source to get your free annual credit report under federal law is www.AnnualCreditReport.com, 1-877-322-8228.
If your identity is stolen, report it to your creditors and financial institutions, your local police and/or the police where the identity theft occurred, and place a "fraud alert" on your file with all three major credit bureaus (Experian, Transunion, and Equifax). Contact your BBB, www.bbb.org, or the Federal Trade Commission, www.ftc.gov, for more advice on how to prevent identity theft.
About your BBB serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington:
Your Better Business Bureau is a not-for-profit organization funded by Better Business Bureau Accredited Businesses. The BBB’s mission is to be the leader in advancing marketplace trust. For more information about the services and products provided by your BBB, call 206-431-2222 or 253-830-2924 in Washington, 503-212-3022 in Oregon, 907-562-0704 in Alaska, or visit our Web site at www.bbb.org.