AARP provides simple consumer tips to help protect your identity

The holiday season finds many people hitting malls, shopping centers and even their home computers to purchase gifts for friends and family – but buyer beware, identity thieves are also hitting the streets and cyberspace to find their next victim.

AARP urges consumers to follow a few simple tips to make sure they do not become a victim of identity theft during the holiday shopping season.

“Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the country – and the holiday shopping season is prime time for identity thieves to strike,” said Bob Gallo, AARP Illinois Senior State Director.

“Consumers need to take precautions to protect themselves and simple steps can go a long way in making sure that they aren’t the next victim.”

According to a Federal Trade Commission survey, about 8.3 million Americans discovered their identities had been stolen in 2005.

In Illinois, over 11,000 people fell victims to ID theft.

AARP provides the following tips to help consumers protect their credit:

• Carefully dispose of papers with personal information. Tear up or shred receipts, bank statements, expired credit cards and credit offers.
• Don’t give out your Social Security number unless absolutely necessary.
• Don’t routinely carry your Social Security number, birth certificate, passport, or multiple credit cards with you.
• Be conscious of others around you when you enter your PIN number at ATMs. Don’t throw your ATM receipt in the wastebasket.
• Order personal checks that don’t include your driver’s license number.
• Don’t give out your credit card or bank account number over the phone, through the mail or over the Internet until you can confirm that you’re dealing with a legitimate business.
• Store financial information in a safe place at home.
• Place a security freeze on your credit report to minimize chances an identity thief can establish credit using your name. People age 65 and over can now place a freeze on their credit reports for free. For individuals under the age of 65, there is a $10 charge for placing the freeze. To place a freeze, contact each of the three major credit reporting bureaus separately (Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax).