PREVENTION TIPS

    MAKE FRONT AND BACK COPIES OF ALL OF YOUR DEBIT/CREDIT CARDS, DRIVER'S LICENSE,
    SOCIAL SECURITY CARD, MEDICAL CARDS, PASSPORT, AND AUTO INSURANCE CARDS ETC.,  AND
    KEEP THEM IN A SAFE PLACE.  IF YOU TRAVEL ABROAD, MAKE A COUPLE OF PHOTOCOPIES OF
    YOUR PASSPORT AND KEEP THE COPIES SEPARATE IN CASE YOU LOSE YOUR PASSPORT.

    DON'T USE HOTEL, PUBLIC, OR INTERNET CAFE COMPUTERS  TO ACCESS YOUR FINANCIAL
    ACCOUNTS OR  TO MAKE PURCHASES.  THE COMPUTERS COULD CONTAIN VIRUS' THAT RECORD
    YOUR PASSWORDS, TRANSACTIONS, AND BE PROGRAMMED TO SEND THAT INFORMATION
    ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.  YOUR ACCOUNT(S) COULD BE DEPLETED QUICKLY AND YOUR
    FINANCIAL INSTITUTION MAY HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE.
            
    DETECT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY BY ROUTINELY MONITORING YOUR FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS AND
    BILLING STATEMENTS.  IF YOU FIND AN ERROR, REPORT IT IMMEDIATELY TO THE COMPANY
    ORALLY AND IN WRITING AND KEEP COPIES OF EVERY DOCUMENT.  CLOSE ACCOUNTS THAT HAVE
    BEEN TAMPERED WITH OR ESTABLISHED FRAUDULENTLY.

    BE WARY PROVIDING ANY CREDIT CARD ACCOUNT NUMBER OR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER TO
    ANYONE BY TELEPHONE, EVEN IF YOU MADE THE CALL.  DO SOME RESEARCH AND VERIFY THAT
    THE COMPANY IS LEGITIMATE BEFORE PROVIDING PERSONAL INFORMATION.

    DO NOT MAIL BILL PAYMENTS FROM YOUR HOME ADDRESS.  THEY CAN BE STOLEN.  TAKE THEM
    TO THE POST OFFICE TO AT LEAST REDUCE YOUR  RISK.  ONLINE BANKING IS MORE SECURE.  IF
    YOUR MAILBOX IS UNSECURED OUTSIDE YOUR RESIDENCE OR BUSINESS, GET ONE THAT YOU CAN
    LOCK.  DO NOT PRINT YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER OR DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER ON YOUR
    CHECKS.

    REVIEW YOUR CREDIT REPORT AT LEAST THREE TIMES A YEAR.  OPT OUT OF CREDIT CARD
    APPLICATION OFFERS.  CALL YOUR CREDIT CARD COMPANY AND REQUEST THAT NO NEW CREDIT
    CARD OFFERS OR COURTESY CHECKS BE  SENT TO YOU.  COURTESY CHECKS ARE TICKING TIME
    BOMBS.

    SHRED OR  DISPOSE DOCUMENTS YOU DON'T NEED.

    USE CREDIT CARDS WHEN POSSIBLE.  DON'T CARRY CHECKBOOK OR DEPOSIT SLIPS WITH YOU ON
    A REGULAR BASIS.  PICK UP NEW CHECKS AT YOUR BANK.  DO NOT HAVE THEM MAILED.  

    ONLY USE CHECKS WITH MERCHANTS YOU KNOW AND TRUST.  YOUR CHECK HAS YOUR ROUTING
    AND ACCOUNT NUMBER ON IT AND CAN BE EASILY COUNTERFEITED.  USE ONLINE BANKING TO PAY
    YOUR BILLS FROM YOUR HOME COMPUTER.  BE CAUTIOUS USING WI-FI AND PUBLIC COMPUTERS
    TO CONDUCT ANY BANK TRANSACTIONS.

    DO NOT LEAVE IDENTIFIERS  IN YOUR CAR AT ANYTIME ESPECIALLY  WHEN YOU VALET, SHOP,
    WORKOUT,  GO TO GAMES,  CHURCH OR WEDDINGS, OR HAVE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON
    YOUR CAR,   CARS ARE PRIMARY TARGETS OF CRIMINALS THAT WANT TO STEAL YOUR
    INFORMATION.

    LADIES WATCH YOUR PURSE IN THE GROCERY CART WHILE YOU SHOP.  DISTRACTION
    TECHNIQUES USED BY CRIMINALS MAKE THIS ONE OF THE MOST EFFORTLESS  METHODS OF
    STEALING YOUR WALLET AND "MAXING" OUT YOUR CREDIT CARDS BEFORE YOU ARE DONE
    SHOPPING.

    USE YOUR DEBIT/CREDIT CARDS AT ATM MACHINES, RETAILERS, BARS, RESTAURANTS,  AND GAS
    PUMPS THAT YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH AND TRUST.

    MEMORIZE OR MAKE A COPY YOUR USER NAMES, PASSWORDS, AND PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION
    NUMBERS AND KEPT IT IN A SECURE PLACE.  IF YOU HAVE MANY, LIKE I DO, YOU MIGHT CONSIDER
    MAKING A LIST AND DISGUISE "ENCRYPT" THEM WITH X'S AND O'S SO THAT ONLY YOU CAN FIGURE
    OUT THE REST OF THE PASSWORDS.

    COPY AND KEEP A LIST OF ALL YOUR CREDIT ACCOUNTS AND BANK ACCOUNTS IN A SECURE
    PLACE SO YOU CAN QUICKLY CALL THE ISSUERS TO INFORM THEM ABOUT MISSING STATEMENTS
    OR STOLEN CARDS.  INCLUDE ACCOUNT NUMBERS, EXPIRATION DATES, AND THE TELEPHONE
    NUMBERS OF CUSTOMER SERVICE AND FRAUD DEPARTMENTS ON THE BACK OF THE CARDS.



                                                                                            

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