Identity Theft and Credit Card Fraud

Identity theft and credit card fraud are the fastest growing white-collar crimes in the United States. Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information to commit fraud or other crimes.

While you can't entirely control whether you will become a victim, here are some steps you can take to minimize your risk:

1. Safeguard your credit cards—treat them like money.
2. Review your statement carefully to make sure all charges are accurate.
3. If a credit card bill is late, call customer service immediately and verify your mailing address. A criminal may have diverted your mail to a new address.
4. Do not carry all of your credit cards with you all at all times. Also, minimize the amount of personal information a criminal can steal by not carrying your birth certificate, social security card, passport or other personal documents.
5. Sign new credit cards as soon as you receive them.
6. Keep track of all your ATM, credit card, debit card and other receipts.
7. Keep a list of your credit card account numbers and the companies' telephone numbers so you can cancel them quickly and easily if they are lost or stolen.
8. Check your credit report for accuracy at least once a year.

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