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personal information protection
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personal information protection
How do you determine what personal information to share with whom?There are steps to protect yourself from fraud and scams, but criminals seeking your personal information are getting savvier. The ITS security team has compiled a list of links that can help you learn what you need to know about personal information protection. Where to go if you believe your identity has been stolenPlace a fraud alert on their credit files by calling one of the three credit reporting companies. You can also request a free copy of your credit report.
File a report with your local police department and get a copy for yourself and any creditors that may ask for it Close any accounts that were used or opened Change all of your online passwords - email, banking, credit cards, retail web sites, ebay, anything you can think of In the US, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. If you are a victim of any type of identity theft, you can report the theft by calling the FTC's toll-free Identity Theft Hotline at (877) ID-THEFT or (877) 438-4338. You can also file a complaint online. Counselors will advise you on how to deal with the credit-related problems that could result from identity theft. List from What to do if you're a victim of fraud: http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/privacy/fraudvictim.mspx (published: November 4, 2004) Tips for safer computingGeneral Protection Protect your Social Security Number
List from Identity Theft and Resource Center: http://www.identity-theft-protection.com/articles/pro_ssnumb.html Shred unneeded important papers - especially credit card solicitations and anything with account or social security numbers Public Computing Safety Tips: http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/privacy/publiccomputer.mspx Spam dos and don'ts: http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/email/options.mspx Online ShoppingFor a safe, satisfying e-shopping experience, follow these steps: Check for a secure browser. Before you submit your credit-card information, make sure the site complies with industry security standards by using protection such as Secure Socket Layer (SSL), a technology that encrypts your personal information as it travels across the Internet, safeguarding your transaction. Check the site's security policy, or, when it's time to pay, look for "https" in the site's URL or address field, an unbroken key, or a small padlock image in the bottom-left corner. Use your credit card. In accordance with the Fair Credit Billing Act, you can dispute charges and withhold payment of the disputed charge while your complaint is being investigated by a creditor. Further, most credit-card companies will pay any amount over $50 if your card is used for an unauthorized transaction. Keep that password secret. Many e-commerce sites require a password for returning customers. If you have accounts at more than one site, make sure each password is different. Don't use an obvious password, such as your Social Security number or birthday. If you must write down your password(s), don't leave the information in a place where others can find it. Finally, never share your password(s) with others. Print your receipt. After you've completed an online purchase, a receipt (often with a purchase number) will appear on the final screen. Rather than jotting down the information, print the actual receipt for your records, should any discrepancies occur." From Consumer Reports "Shopping online: A how-to" Opt Out ServicesDon't want telemarketers (Phone, email, or snail mail) bothering you as much? Check this out. Opt out. GlossaryIdentity Theft - Taking someone's identity to hide your own identity or for financial gain. Phishing - This is when a criminal attempts to get personal information from you under false pretenses. This can be done over the phone, but is most commonly done in email. Be wary of any unsolicited emails (even if they look official) that come to you from a bank or retailer that asks you to go to a site and fill in personal information. Please see Microsoft's "How can I tell if an e-mail message is fraudulent" page here to spot a phishing email. More InformationFederal Trade Commission Identity Theft pages Identity Theft Victim Complaint Data-Figures and Trends in Tennessee Identity Theft Resource Center Safeshopping
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