Identity Theft Prevention
Arizona is #1 in the nation for Identity Theft. With this in mind, the Arizona Attorney General’s office recommends these:
TIPS TO PROTECT YOUR IDENTITY
• Review your bank and credit card statements monthly.
• Remove your social security number from your driver’s license.
• Keep credit card account information in a safe place.
• Never give bank or credit card account information over the phone unless you initiated the call and know the business.
• Order a copy of your credit report annually and check it carefully.
• Keep your wallet or purse in a secure place at all times.
• When ordering by phone or on-line, use a credit card rather that a debit card.
• Always take your credit card receipts.
• Cancel credit cards that you don’t use.
• Install a locked mailbox at your home or use a post office box.
• Use a secure mailbox when mailing bills or checks.
• Shred anything with personal identifying information before discarding.
• Store PIN numbers and credit/debit cards in separate safe places.
• Delete all personal information from your computer before disposing of it.
• Remove your name from mailing lists generated by telemarketers.
• Minimize the number of credit cards you carry.
• Don’t carry your social security card with you.
• Never use your social security card for identification.
WHAT IS “PERSONAL IDENTIFYING INFORMATION”?
• name
• address
• date of birth
• passwords
• pin numbers
• social security number
HOW DO THIEVES GET YOUR PERSONAL IDENTIFYING INFORMATION?
• Steal your wallet or purse
• Steal personal information from your home or vehicle
• Steal credit or debit card numbers as the card is being processed
• Steal mail from your mailbox
• Go through your trash
• Pretend to be your landlord or employer to get your credit reports or personnel records
• Divert your mail by using a change of address form
• You give it to people you trust
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON KINDS OF IDENTITY FRAUD?
• Credit card fraud
• Phone and utility fraud
• Bank fraud
• Employment-related fraud
• Government document or benefit fraud
• Loan fraud
WHERE TO GO FOR INFORMATION
Arizona Agencies
Arizona Attorney General -- Office of Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard --
1275 West Washington Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85007
602-542-5763 / Toll Free 800-352-8431400 West Congress, Suite 315,Tucson, Arizona 85701
520-628-6504 / Toll Free 800-352-8431Arizona Motor Vehicle Department -- 800-251-5866
To remove your social security number from your driver’s license or to order a duplicate driver’s license -- Service Arizona
Credit Reports
Equifax Information Services -- P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, Georgia 30374-0241 -- 800-525-6285
Experian -- P.O. Box 9532, Allen, Texas 75013 -- 888-397-3742
Trans Union -- P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, California 92634-6790 -- 800-680-7289
To remove your name from credit bureau mailing lists, call 888-567-8688.
Telemarketing
To remove your name and home address from national telemarketing mailing and phone lists: Direct Marketing Association - Consumers